Be in India for Diwali

“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. [...] Surrounded by the glow of light and the warmth of our hosts, we were seated to enjoy our Diwali dinner. The couple prepared a silver thali plate for everyone with mouth-watering dishes like mango launii, bharwa bhindi and jeera aloo. It was by far the most delicious meal we had during the trip.”

“And then the clock strikes 3:30 on the first morning of Diwali. With dawn still hours away, families across India awaken, as do I. Their homes, dark and motionless at this uncommon hour, stir to life, filled with a heady mix of burning oil and fragrant sandalwood incense.”

“Though most of the homes, stores, and temples in India are decorated with thousands of small oil lamps for Diwali, because Darjeeling is built on a mountainside, it enabled me to see a much larger panorama of lighted homes in a single glance than would otherwise be possible on a flat terrain. As I walked along the Darjeeling hillside that dark evening, it seemed that lighted homes were stacked upon lighted homes. These glowing memories of Darjeeling are still well-etched in my mind.”