Yes, it is yet again another holiday. Diwali, pronounced D-vul-E. The festival of lights, where streets are transformed into pieces of art and there are candles glowing and fireworks cracking throughout the night. Diwali is celebrated in north India similarly to how we celebrate Christmas. It is a big production with lots of gifts and shopping and holiday cheer. I have been avoiding the markets for the last two weeks because on top of the fact that there are tons of people in India, they also leave everything until the last minute. Think of the worst, crowded, chaotic mall you have ever been in during the holidays...now multiply that by 9.
We had our office celebration today and luckily the women took care of me and dressed me in a Sari, again. I better learn how to put one on before the novelty wears off. We worked for the morning, and then we had an elaborate Puja (prayer) set up. They all said that it was small, but the time and efforts that people put into setting them up was anything less than amazing. They did the puja, lit the candles, incense, prayed, and then we all went out for a nice lunch at the Hayatt.
It is so funny to me because every time that I go to one of these nice hotels I get so confused. It is almost like you are not in India anymore. There are all these foreigners and they are perfectly taken care of. You can tell that they feel like they are being really adventurous and getting out to see the real india, but they will see it only long enough to start to feel bad before they run back to their protective 5 star hotel bubble. Then they catch a glimpse of me and their look completely changes. I am American too, in the same hotel, yet wearing a sari, and hanging out with a group of 25 indians. Joking, hugging and wishing happy Diwali. They now are starting at me too. Wondering who I am. My co-workers comment on it, and I just laugh, because the lesson that I have gained is that I will not fit in anywhere while I am in India. But don't worry, I don't mind it, because now I stare too! I only notice it when I am around other foreigners. When I see someone who doesn't belong, I find myself so mesmerized and wondering what the heck they are here that I don't realize that I am starting until I am 5 minutes deep.
This is your cousin Michelle (Uncle Tommy's daughter). I'm enjoying reading these. We live in a very diverse community and neighborhood with a big indian population so we often get enjoy observing their culture. It's interesting to see it through the eyes of an American who actually immersed the real world there. Enjoy your time there!
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