Last night was Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. In many respects it is like Christmas in the U.S. Shops are all decorated with golden tinsel, and are overflowing with ‘mithai’ (fresh sweets). The bazar is packed with people, as this is a day that people buy new clothes, and housewives should buy a new pot for the kitchen.
Also in prevelance are fireworks. Sparklers, fountains and many loud firecrackers are sold and used in the market. One needs to pay attention when there is a crowd of kids, as they are likely lighting fireworks.
I wandered the bazar and then started the evening at a family’s house for tea and sweets.
In the evening a large crowd gathered in the hotel. We ate a big dinner, and then settled into the cozy living room. It has gotten quite cold in the last two days, so we lit the wood-burning stove and some candles.
Late in the evening, we walked to the far side of the mountain, to get a view of Mussoorie and Dehradun. It was a clear night, and we could see all of the city spread out below us. Everywhere there were small and large fireworks. We sat for twenty minutes just watching and listening to the far off cracks.
Finally we joined the hotel workers outside the hotel. The had a large stereo blaring Hindi and Garwali (the local dialect) music, and were dancing. We joined the dancing for awhile. Unfortunately my room was right next to where they were dancing, and the festivities went late into the night. I didn’t have the heart to ask them to stop, so I took a nap in the living room after the other guests went to sleep.