Fireworks

This Friday is Diwali, a Hindu festival that celebrates the return of Ram from a victorious battle. The return represents the triumph of evil over good, light vs. darkness, etc. There are several parts of the Diwali season (which lasts 20 days or so) which include pujas (prayers), honoring ones brother, gifts (like Christmas in a sense), lighting candles, and, most importantly for me, FIREWORKS!

That is right, Diwali is also known, at least in Delhi, for its fireworks. Ever night as the day comes closer and closer, more loud booms echo throughout the city. When it first started happening, (about a week and a half ago) we wondered what was going on but now it is second nature to hear loud cracks and booms all around the neighborhood. Deciding that I couldn’t let this opportunity pass us by, Evan and I went to go get some fireworks...

We went to Sadar Bazaar a mere three days before Diwali, which is kind of the equvilant of going to Union Square in San Francisco on Black Friday after Thanksgiving. It was packed. It is tradition for people to buy something right before Diwali because it also marks the beginning of the new Indian fiscal year. So needless to say, the market was packed with carts and people and horse or cattle drawn carriages. But most importantly, it was also packed with firework booths…

Now let me tell you, children in California have led a deprived lifestyle. After buying a lot of fireworks and taking them home. I felt literally like a little kid. I even called Jane Marie (in the morning for her) and told her how excited I was and which fireworks I had bought. There are fireworks here that are so cool. One that we bought is a cylinder that is larger than a soda can and about as tall as up to my knee. It will be one big rocket. Another is a box of fifty rockets. You light the fuse once and then over a course of time 50 rockets are shot up into the air and explode. I couldn’t wait for it to become dark so I could go and light them. I had all the sudden turned into a five year old boy who couldn’t wait until Christmas Day.

We went out and lit some of the fireworks and it was great! I really mean it when I say that we were deprived. Seeing rockets fly into the air and explode was great. Some of the fireworks you placed on the ground, lit, and then a fountain of sparks flew into the air. The kids from around our neighborhood came out and watched as we lit them. They even helped and lit a few of their own. It was so cool. We are saving the best for tomorrow night. We will be in Darmasala, which is largely a Buddhist Tibetan population, but we imagine they might enjoy them too.