Happy Diwali everyone

And a VERY happy diwali to you all.

My added comment.

[ ] Do a round of greetings with family-friends in the city all the while hoping that I get at least one invite for dinner this weekend :-)

Happy Diwali to all who celebrate!

- trying to convince people not to shoot off the loudest, most obnoxious "bombs" they can find. it terrifies the neighbourhood animals. [sounds preachy, i know, sorry]

If none of the above, feel free to add your own answer in the comments.

Did not know it was Diwali. Hmm, must find way to get myself invited for dinner :)

Explaining to all my Diwali-celebrating (or Diwali-aware) friends why/how Sikhs celebrate as well ;) Hooray!

Happy diwali and a very happy new year to everyone. The calling people to wish with the hope of getting invited rings true :)

Heppy Diwali mutineers!

Happy Diwali! I missed lighting off some firecrackers yesterday because I was so totally exhausted from work...oh, well.

When I worked in Japan as an English teacher, I would do Diwali classes with my students, with little manga-style drawings of Rama, Sita, Ravana, and Hanuman to illustrate the myth (they all went, "Oooooh!" when I switched out the standard Ravana drawing for the 10-headed version). I'd also wear a salwar kameez and teach them the basics of Indian culture and how to write their names in the Devanagari script (even though I can't really speak Hindi, but it's easier to teach than Tamil is!). I really miss that this year, now that I'm back in the US.

A very happy diwali!

I'm partying it up with my homies with some delish mithai, glittering diyas and shiny clothes :)

Om Shanti Om, baby!

Happy Diwali y'all!

Happy Diwali all at SM ...I am cooking up a storm for a Diwali bash tomorrow complete with madira, taash, kheer - the works !

Happy Deepavali, SMers! My celebrations are low-key this year, but this morning I watched The Office's Diwali episode on the train - very satisfying ;)

Pravin told me about this festival.
The great Cornholio approves.

FIIIIRE!!! FIYERRRR!

with madira, taash, kheer - the works !

Hi,Chez Runa, I'd like the Diwali Meal with a side of naan.
Does that come in mega-American-sized portions?
Wow, I'm jealous of your family and friends, Runa.

Happy Diwali All!

Happy Diwali to the Mutiny!

As for my poll choice, it's "other." I'm going to the "family function," but it's certainly not dreaded. It's one of the best parties of the year!

Happy Diwali all.
Took the poll and in addition my honey and I stayed up late making desi sweets and one spicy savoury. Too exhausted to do anything else later :D

my honey and I stayed up late making desi sweets and one spicy savoury.

I'm stealing that line!

happy deepavali/diwali to all.

did anybody end up celebrating this yesterday? I was under stern orders from family to wear the clothes they had sent on Thursday only. No sweets or anything though.

Deepavali Vazhutukal! :)

I'm going to my first Deepavali party tonight. Yay!

Going to pick up some Idli Sambar at the local dukan (only available on Fridays) and maybe watching a Bollywood movie tonight.

MM, i was wondering about that, as well. but as far as i can remember, parts of the south (definitely tamils) celebrate the day before others generally do. not sure why, since it's a lunar calendar for all, but i always take it as an excuse to celebrate for two days - one with the family, the other with friends.

So far it looks like I'm spending Diwali enjoying a quiet night away from the road, at my apartment. It's good to have Diwali on a Friday.

Happy Diwali, all. I hope the new year brings you much joy, and only the good kind of change.

Happy Deepavali all ! missing my family & India the most rt now :(

Happy Deepawali wishes to everyone. Hope this day begins a great year ahead :)

can somebody explain why this signifies the new year in some parts of india? in TN and AP, we have our own new years - varusha pirappu and ugadhi, respectively. i was wondering whether deepavali as the new year is a cultural or religious thing....

Happy Diwali everyone!

Happy Diwali, everyone!I've been given my assignment for tonight so we;ll see how weill it turns out!

Happy Deepavali all!

can somebody explain why this signifies the new year in some parts of india?

Seriously peeps. What are you families like?
My family's Diwali parties are awesome.

A happy Diwali to all our readers!

I'm right there w/ Tamasha. It's become more fun nowadays given that all the "kids" have grown up and throw alcohol into the mix.

Happy Diwali all.
Friendly reminder to Marathi brothers: Don't forget Padva tomorrow (the ceremonial mugging of husband folk ;-).

Let us rejoice together the triumph of good over evil throughout the world! Happy Diwali to SMers.

Holi - spray color on one and all, drink bhang
Navratri - dance, dance and dance
Deepavali - wear new clothes, eat, light firecrackers and play teen-patti
Sankranti - eat sweet and sour

As a religious group, we Hindus are party animals. :-) Aren't our festivals FUN?

Happy Deepavali, one and all!

@Quizman: very true.

Happy Deepavalli everyone.

Superb pic of the Golden Temple during Diwali.

happy diwali, all!

i'll be spending my evening recovering from food poisoning. and on sunday, i'm sure my mum will call to give me the details/menu of the "dreaded family function" that she will be attending.

Quizman - beautiful pic. Is it true that Sikhs also commemorate Diwali because Guru Hargobind was released from the Gwalior Fort by Jehangir on this day?

Yes. Also, the foundation stone of The Golden Temple was laid on Diwali.

I think Guru Amar Das declared it as special day*.
*Half remembered soundbites from childhood. Apologies to Sikhs if I'm wrong.

Small family firework rockets in milk bottles. Treats. Family gather who bring more treats. Emergency chairs (perching stools, bapu-ji’s foot stool, bapu-ji’s wheel chair, people got to sit) are bought out for us to sit and eat treats. Followed by more treats.

HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL and sal mubarak!!

Happy Diwali!

Hallmark E-cards

When you care enough, to send the very best...

:)

Is it true that Sikhs also commemorate Diwali because Guru Hargobind was released from the Gwalior Fort by Jehangir on this day?

Quizman, is that pic yours? Would you mind if I used it for a blog post? Thanks.

Also, happy Diwali to all!! :)

a homesick Diwali for me... missing my peoples in Chicago!

Amit,

Nope, the pic is not mine. I just searched on Flikr for good Diwali pics. Got nostalgic.:-)

Quizman, thanks. I actually found the same image on the wiki page too, and it's free to use.

Happy, Happy Diwali, Mutineers! (link courtesy of my elder daughter).

Fourteen years ago, very nearly today, I nearly set my daughters' school on fire, lighting the fat little wicks the first graders had made out of cotton balls soaked in oil-- peanut? olive? mustard? --I forget.

Nowadays you can get a cheesy Hallmark e-card for your nearest and dearest- quelle milestone!

Animated Ramayana, 10 minutes.

Lion, I actually do like the first one with the adobe housienda all lighted up.

Lion, I actually do like the first one with the adobe housienda all lighted up.

Anime Ramayana here.

Happy Diwali, all!
Break out the new clothes!
Woot, woot!

Happy Diwali everyone,
Enjoying the diwali in desh for the first time in 7 years. I am so stuffed with sweets :)

"oil-- peanut? olive? mustard? --I forget."

ghee??

Lion, I actually do like the first one with the adobe housienda all lighted up.

That's the one I sent out to family and friends. :)

Friendly reminder to Marathi brothers: Don't forget Padva tomorrow (the ceremonial mugging of husband folk ;-).

Followed by the ceremonial mugging of brothers for bhai dooj(heh heh)I'm softening up my cousin with lamb chops, biryani and Macallan before the mugging.

Happy Diwali everyone!