Happy Diwali

Diwali is the Festival of Lights - Ram's triumphant return is lit with candles and lights - Lakshmi the Goddess of Wealth is welcomed - ignorance is banished by the light of understanding - it depends who you ask as to what it's about. Once thing is pervasive - the continuous noise of exploding fireworks. There are 5 days of holiday - a time when families gather and eat. It marks the largest school break in the calendar, also - at least in Gujurat.

The unofficial Darpana tour guide, the lovely, ebullient Naina, is looking after us today. We're joining 1000's of others at a temple up the road for "600 types of food" - 600 opportunities to exercise caution. Then off to visit with other friends/relatives of Naina.

Mitali tries on Kiran's new Diwali dress

Ramkumari applies heavy eye-shadow

Kiran and Mitali

Josh, Dom, Mitali and I returned last night from an afternoon and evening at the generous Mallika Saribhai's farmhouse. We had a swim and dinner, saw a 3 hour-old buffalo and enjoyed the company of Mallika, Ravanta, her son and his girlfriend, Natasha. When we got home Shivnath and family were in the middle of their own fireworks display on the landing out the back. All digits and limbs remain in tact this morning. We'll check again at the end of Diwali.