We came into Diwali 2012 with elder son not going within spitting distance of even a sparkler after an incident on his first trip to India in 2008, younger son running terrified when he heard even a distant boom, oh and me not able to take photos of fireworks.
We have come out of Diwali 2012 with 2 pyromaniacs and me who still can't take pics of fireworks, despite plenty of tries!!
Onto firecrackers - serious business..........the temporary road side shops are set up and packed to the rafters with explosives. Under protest form Wills, who at this stage wanted nothing to do with fireworks, I asked Purander to stop at one of these so I could buy some very tame sparklers. Day before Diwali shop is moderately busy but not heaving. Big debate seems to be where you get the biggest discounts, MRP less 60%, 70%......Not a big deal on a couple of pack of sparklers but when it comes to some of these fireworks it sure is. People were buying bags and carts full of booms, bangs and sizzles. Our meagre purchase looked pretty pathetic!!
That evening when dusk had fallen the streets round vista were hotting up.....
Wills and I took a stroll around the lanes on the warm up to the big day, the dress rehearsal! Diwali is a five day festival but one day is specifically highlighted for major ignitions! We are now familiar with chukkras, flower pots and bombs!! Wills by now was getting a little interested and more than keen to break open the sparklers.......
And fire paint...........
Ads still kept in the background.
By dawn the crackers were gaining frequency, power and amplitude and the general excitement was mounting. Daylight is all about pooja, sweets and new clothes. The sweets........I love indian sweets and we were given a few yummy parcels to devour.
Simon was despatched back to the fire cracker shop to this time buy some actual crackers......the day of, the place was seriously busy: discounts up, buyers up, and quantity of purchases up.....again we probably seemed a little feeble in our participation.
Safety....felt a bit guilty this morning about the lack there of, especially when reading in the morning paper about the number of kids hospitalized with eye injuries in Bangers last night. Ads seemed to make an instant recovery from his 2008 mishap and headed off into the night with bro' from across the street and was not seen for several hours and had stories I didn't really need to hear this morning.
The skies were full of glitz, dazzle and smoke.....
and our ears rang from the boom, boom, bang. One of the Vista lanes had a 10,000 bomb. Essentially a role of 10,000 explosions rolled out to cover a hundred meters or so, one bullet igniting the next.....we didn't see it but we heard it, heard it, heard it!!!
We were happy with our smaller fireworks.......
which Wills was more than happy to light...
Once again, such a blessing to be able to share in this Indian Festival, to greet and wish our Indian neighbors here in Vista a Happy Diwali and to join them in hoping for eternal light over dark, good over evil, peace and joy..................
We retired leaving our lights still shining on the outside porch, a glimmer of hope in the dark..............
We have come out of Diwali 2012 with 2 pyromaniacs and me who still can't take pics of fireworks, despite plenty of tries!!
First to the crux of the matter... Diwali signifies the victory of good over evil, light over dark. Each Diwali, lights illuminate homes and hearts. This simple truth finds new reason and hope. From darkness unto light — light empowers commitment to good deeds, clarity of thought which brings one closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India, the scent of incense hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope.
Onto firecrackers - serious business..........the temporary road side shops are set up and packed to the rafters with explosives. Under protest form Wills, who at this stage wanted nothing to do with fireworks, I asked Purander to stop at one of these so I could buy some very tame sparklers. Day before Diwali shop is moderately busy but not heaving. Big debate seems to be where you get the biggest discounts, MRP less 60%, 70%......Not a big deal on a couple of pack of sparklers but when it comes to some of these fireworks it sure is. People were buying bags and carts full of booms, bangs and sizzles. Our meagre purchase looked pretty pathetic!!
That evening when dusk had fallen the streets round vista were hotting up.....
By dawn the crackers were gaining frequency, power and amplitude and the general excitement was mounting. Daylight is all about pooja, sweets and new clothes. The sweets........I love indian sweets and we were given a few yummy parcels to devour.
Simon was despatched back to the fire cracker shop to this time buy some actual crackers......the day of, the place was seriously busy: discounts up, buyers up, and quantity of purchases up.....again we probably seemed a little feeble in our participation.
Safety....felt a bit guilty this morning about the lack there of, especially when reading in the morning paper about the number of kids hospitalized with eye injuries in Bangers last night. Ads seemed to make an instant recovery from his 2008 mishap and headed off into the night with bro' from across the street and was not seen for several hours and had stories I didn't really need to hear this morning.
The skies were full of glitz, dazzle and smoke.....
We were happy with our smaller fireworks.......
We retired leaving our lights still shining on the outside porch, a glimmer of hope in the dark..............
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