Diwali

As the evening arrives so do the sounds of bombs and crackers blasting through the still dark night, filling the air with the pungent smell of smoke. Silence at last, then another blast from afar and another waking me from my slumber.

No, it's no blurb from the latest war movie but this is life in Chennai over the 4 days of Diwali. The festival of lights. Or sounds, we might say, but to the Hindu community it's like their Christmas. Time to spend with family, sharing gifts, new clothes, gifts of sweets and the time to light up the sky's with Firecrackers. The streets today were crazy, traffic more chaotic than normal with people out and about doing their last minute shopping. This is also the time when most people get a bonus of a months salary,(we wish) so it's the time to shop with lots of stores having good sales. Needless to say the multitude of firecracker shops that have sprung up all over town. I read an article where it said how much people would spend on crackers and it was astronomical.

All the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance and a story to tell. The illumination of homes with lights and the skies with firecrackers is an expression of thanks to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity. According to one belief, the sound of fire-crackers are an indication of the joy of the people living on earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful state. Still another possible reason has a more scientific basis: the fumes produced by the crackers kill a lot of insects and mosquitoes, found in plenty after the rains.

Last year we were lucky to have Mum, Dad And Kerrie staying with us. Dad was in his element. Firecrackers to buy and set off, causing no end of stress to his ever so cautious daughters.

"Be careful Dad" we said over and over till it was too late and we had two injuries in the the house. Dad with a burnt leg and Andrew with a burnt finger. Boys will never learn. I vowed then and there that I would be far away from Chennai next Diwali. I was not putting myself or my kids through that again. The crackers started by 5am and stopped around midnight if we were lucky. Not much sleep was had and it really did feel like we were living in a war zone. So much so Kerrie was never so happy but to leave here and head home to the peace and quiet of Australia. So this time tomorrow night we will be on our way to the airport to board a flight to Phuket. Peace and quiet will rein over us, while we leave Chennai to its action packed nights of firecrackers.

Ah the bliss.