First time for me to experience Diwali. Lighting up to welcome the gods, playing fireworks, eating extravagantly, and almost burning the straw… Phew, luckily I’m still alive.
An Indian friend described Diwali as “Christmas for Indians.” After this experience, I can tell, Diwali is 3-in-1, Chinese New Year + Mid-Autumn Festival + Christmas.
According to the Indian lunar calendar, Diwali is the 15th day of the 8th month, which fell on October 24 in 2022. I thought it would be a full moon night like the Mid-Autumn Festival, but it’s not. That day has no moon, so every household will lighten up to welcome the Goddess – Lakshmi.
There is a legendary story behind it: Simply put, the god of justice defeated the god of evil on this day, and Lakshmi represents wealth and prosperity, so every household will draw Lakshmi’s footprints outside the door to lead her into the house, symbolising bringing wealth to the family.
That’s what I experienced.
At the day of Diwali, first say “Happy Diwali” to everyone after you woke up. In the afternoon, everyone did a deep cleaning for the house, and then hang up colourful lightings. Afterwards, Curry Mom began to smear cement-like things on the outside of the door. “What’s that?” I asked Curry Boy , “It’s cow dung mixed with some other things!” Cow dung? ! I stared, don’t tell me to touch cow dung please.
Curry Mom also brought a bowl of milky white liquid, which turned out to be wheat flour ditch water. She drew on the ground smoothly and quickly as if there was a draft on it. “Is there a draft or pre-designed how to draw?” “No, I just draw as I like.” Maybe every year she draws the same? I think.
My co-sister-in-law used coloured sand to make different patterns, as well as Lakshmi’s footprints. I asked her if her mother taught her, “No! Youtube taught me, haha!”
While watching, they also encouraged me to draw something.
Me? Cow dung? Drawing?
“Let you guys finish it first, I don’t want to ruin your work.” Sounds like a good excuse?
But at the end, I gave it a try.
“What should I draw?” “A flower would be fine.”
I dipped my hands in some water and drew a random flower that a primary school kid would draw. “Oh shoot! I drew on cow dung!” Wash hands, wash hands, wash hands!
In the evening, everyone put on new outfits, first lit a small candle on the pattern, and followed the instructions of Curry Mom to do some rituals, and then came the climax!
Besides the line drawings and colourful lightings, another must-have is fireworks. Curry Bro was excited about it, he bought a lot of fireworks, including 50 boxes of Pop Pop Crackers, N boxes of soaring fireworks, and some sky lanterns.
He set off fireworks to a state of ecstasy, while I covered my ears and almost hid in the house, because it was really loud. Poor Hachi was very scared, hid in the house and shook. I couldn’t bear it when I saw it. I kept touching him to comfort him, and played soothing dog music on Youtube help him relax.
Extreme joy begets sorrow. Almost.
When Curry Bro set off the skyrocketing fireworks, everyone kept looking up, smart phone in hands, ready to take some gorgeous pictures. All of a sudden, Curry Boy and Bro ran past me in seconds. I thought, “Oh that’s the main fireworks, maybe I should also come forward to enjoy it!”
After 5 seconds, I saw the small hill next to our cousin house was lightened up. The fire was blazing, OMG! That’s the dry straw harvested by Curry Uncle’s family, and it’s going to be fed to the cows in winter. 3-4 men ran upon the hill with their slippers, tried to put out the burning straw, and Curry Bro took out a small fire extinguisher from his car and to put out the fire (very well prepared).
Everything happened so quickly. I was blank, without a single thought trying to help.
Fortunately, no one was injured, and the fire was extinguished in time. “I guess it’s over now? “
When the firefighters walked back, everyone shouted excitedly: “Happy Diwali!” Then they went into the house to take a break, ate some more veggie fritters, chit-chat about the fire incident, and 20 minutes later, there was another round of fireworks…
I looked at the clock, it was almost nine o’clock, and I was hungry cooing, “What time will we have dinner?!” I cried out in my heart, but there was no answer.
Next time, I hope Lakshmi won’t come with an ambulance. God bless everyone.
