The streets are quite today because everyone is at home for Diwali. It is a nice change from the usual chaos. The group I am hanging around with and I go to the park to play a spot of cricket and on the way a TV crew stop us and ask if they can interview us for some Diwali TV special. The TV crew interview some of the others and ask them what they like about India, whether they like Indian food, really simple easy to answer questions. Then the TV crew pan their camera at me and ask me what I know about Diwali. What kind of question is that? Where is my easy question?? I go 'err it's something to do with lights and people set off fireworks' and I ramble and giggle a bit. Not exactly the most clever answer and makes me look like a dumb ignorant tourist (which I guess I am as I honestly had no idea what the significance of this holiday is). It is pretty funny when I think about it. Note to future self : when in a foreign country research the holidays in case you get interviewed. At the end we all have to shout at the camera 'Happy Diwali to all of you'! It's well cheesy.
We spend the evening sat on the roof terrace as fireworks are set off across the city. The city sounds like a war zone all night.
So now that I have proved that I am an ignorant tourist I have googled Diwali for those of you who don't know what it is either : Diwali is perhaps the most well-known of the Hindu festivals. The word Diwali means 'rows of lighted lamps'. Diwali is known as the 'festival of lights' because houses, shops and public places are decorated with small earthenware oil lamps called diyas. For many Indians this five day festival honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. People start the new business year at Diwali, and some Hindus will say prayers to the goddess for a successful year.
Getting stopped and interviewed on the street.
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