Attend Diwali celebrations in India

“Immediately, we could feel Diwali all around us. Our hosts had decorated their backyard with strings of white, purple and green lights, and the entire neighbourhood seemed to be setting off firecrackers. [...] While our group was focused on the food, more family members arrived, bearing sweets and trays of burning diyas. Anjali told us this was the true spirit of Diwali. Saurabh invited us to join the family in taking a diya around the yard. ‘Wherever there is dark, put a light,’ he said.”

“I am living in one of the most populated cities in the world, and Diwali has not been quite at all! Fireworks were high up in the sky while firecrackers were exploding on the side of the road. Even though this Diwali has been relatively quiet according to my in-laws, our building and the nearby ones were lit up with bright decorations and the participation to the celebration was at its maximum. I spent the week with my in-laws, which was special since it was my first Diwali in India. We ate, lit diyas, enjoyed chai with farsan in the mornings, and took long afternoon naps.”