Friday was Karva Chauth, a special day for Hindu wives - or even fiancees: they dress in their finest, decorate their hands and lower arms with gorgeous henna designs, are allowed absolutely no work but may hang out with other women and play cards, and they must maintain the strictest fast from sunrise to sunset (happily the sun sets at about 6:00) - not even water is permitted. All this is to ensure the health and long life of their husbands.
In the markets we've being seeing signs of Diwali for some time: gifts of sweets in special containers, lots of red and gold, the special candle lamps that will burn all night in honor of the victory of light over darkness. Diwali is celebrated for five continuous days, with the third day being celebrated as the main Diwali or as 'Festival of Lights'. There are fireworks and all those little candle lamps are lit to drive away evil spirits.
Homes and businesses are renovated and decorated, entrances are made colorful with rangoli, like this one drawn by AES students,
Homes and businesses are renovated and decorated, entrances are made colorful with rangoli, like this one drawn by AES students,
in traditional motifs in colored rice to welcome Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses.
The official religious part: Ganesha is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious act; Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in her three forms Mahalakshmi, the goddess of wealth and money, Mahasaraswati, the goddess of books and learning and Mahakali. Kuber, the treasurer of the gods is also worshipped. I don't understand a word, but see Hindu symbols everywhere - little pictures on the median strip fencing, a tiny shrine set between stones in a wall ... .
