Happy Diwali!!!

In fact, we haven't the slightest idea what the Diwali is. It looks like new years and is full of fire crackers like Bastille Day.

For us Diwali was a beautiful ride in the countryside to visit the ruined monolithic rock temples at Masrur, at about 30 kilometres from Dharamsalla.

On the way, stopping at a village for tchai, we noticed that many of the women in the village had green hands. Driving through the village we discovered that the interior courts of the houses had been 'green-washed' with a die made presumably from local plants.

After the court was completely green, strange geometric symbols were painted over them in white. The symbols would sit outside like a mandala and an alleyway of paint would wonder off into the rooms.

When we stopped to take photos the family invited us back to the Diwali festivities after our visit to Masrour.

When we got back we saw that small fire alters had been set up in the rooms. After lighting the fires, spreading flower petals and water all around them and placing bits of rice and lentil dhal between them, the fire platters were lifted. Heads were covered and the fire was carried, walking backward, out of the home and into the courtyard. The carrier stopped twice on the way: once to pose the platter on the threshold of the door and once to pose it on a smaller intermediate mandala.

Once the platters were in place and the appropriate blessings were made, the candles or butter wick lamps were disposed of around the courtyard or on the outside doors.
 
Boys lit firecrackers and girls danced to wonderfully romantic music full of mysterious fiancés and crescent moons. It was more fun being with the girls.

The family who invited us had an alter for its household gods: stone horses and cows set behind iron wrought symbols of Shiva and decked out in flower garlands. Incense was lit and prayers were said before these gods and I was strongly reminded of the story in Genesis where Rachel stole a household god from her father Laban while fleeing Mesopotamia.

A good time was had by all. Once the rice and dhal had been prepared on the earthen stove, we were invited to eat at the table while the family stood around watching. After a while they took up their own dinner positions on the floor or benches. Great attention and care was given to us, they even thought of providing us with spoons knowing that ferengi don't like eating with their hands.

One couple's daughter will be married on the 7th of December and we only wish we could be there.

Before parting Marie-Do went to get presents from the car, pens for the boys and girls, key-chains for the men and little perfume samplers for the women.

They thanked us and we thanked them, hands joined at the palms. Namasté.