I am in Jaipur. Yesterday I witnessed the hectic build up for the crescendo of the 5 day Diwali festival - which was a mega firework display. It was truly spectacular in its scale.
More than 80% of Indians are Hindus. Diwali is their biggest festival - say like our Christmas.
A number of people have tried to explain to me about what Diwali signifies. Hinduism is complex and very wide ranging with thousands of gods (or is it one God with thousands of facets or incarnations - I do not know). I have read there is Hindu God for everyone and everything which apparently is one reason for its success.
Anyway - Diwali - it is a "festival of light". It celebrates light over dark, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil - hope over despair. Prayers are particularly offered to Lashimi - the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Diwali takes place on the event of the darkest new moon in the Hindu calendar - between mid October and mid November.
Yesterday morning I ventured out into the " pink city" - the old city - the market and bazzar area. It was truly buzzing. Very much like our Christmas Eve with everyone preoccupied with last minute shopping. ( it was interesting that I wandered for a couple of hours and was hardly noticed. Normally in the markets I am regularly encouraged to do business - ha!).
The markets were in the main selling two things. 1) mainly orange marigolds being threaded to form garlands and chains together with the same of shiny green leaves. These of course are for decoration of the home - and 2) a wide display of sweets called mithai often presented in boxes.
The markets themselves had music playing through loudspeakers and all the alley ways had Diwali lights covering them. As I have said like Christmas Eve.
Clearly something was building but you might never have guessed the scale of what was to come. All through the day there were fireworks going off. I had decided to stay at my hotel for the evening. Going out in the old town would have been a full on experience for sure - like going to Trafalgar Square for New Year but likely 100's of times busier and more chaotic.
The Kalyan hotel £11.39 per night (as I had any private double en suite) has a roof top restaurant on the 3rd floor and a viewing tower two floors higher. It offered a 360 degree panorama of the city. It could not have been better. It was a stunning place to be and to witness Diwali. Fireworks Indian style!
Individual fireworks might not have had the complexity or sophistication of Chinese counterparts but the scale was truly truly incredible. From early evening dark until 11pm fireworks did not stop. They came from everywhere. The bangs were unbelievable. ( goodness knows what the cities cows and dogs made of it). Every household in this huge city were letting off fireworks it seemed. 4 or 5 hours of non stop display. I am not exaggerating. Probably under exaggerating! What a show. The variety and scale were totally unforeseen and the Hindu gods must surely have got the message!
I read in the Indian news today that air pollution in New Delhi reached a record all time high last night - at 11 pm particles in the air in some areas exceeded 20 times the safe maximum. (apparently the authorities are trying to disuade people from letting off fireworks - ha!) I can believe it although while there was a cordite smell in the air in Jaipur it did not seem that bad. I am off to New Delhi later today - so let's hope it clears a bit!
My pictures aren't great. Not easy to photograph fireworks I have found with a mob camera!
More than 80% of Indians are Hindus. Diwali is their biggest festival - say like our Christmas.
A number of people have tried to explain to me about what Diwali signifies. Hinduism is complex and very wide ranging with thousands of gods (or is it one God with thousands of facets or incarnations - I do not know). I have read there is Hindu God for everyone and everything which apparently is one reason for its success.
Anyway - Diwali - it is a "festival of light". It celebrates light over dark, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil - hope over despair. Prayers are particularly offered to Lashimi - the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Diwali takes place on the event of the darkest new moon in the Hindu calendar - between mid October and mid November.
Yesterday morning I ventured out into the " pink city" - the old city - the market and bazzar area. It was truly buzzing. Very much like our Christmas Eve with everyone preoccupied with last minute shopping. ( it was interesting that I wandered for a couple of hours and was hardly noticed. Normally in the markets I am regularly encouraged to do business - ha!).
The markets were in the main selling two things. 1) mainly orange marigolds being threaded to form garlands and chains together with the same of shiny green leaves. These of course are for decoration of the home - and 2) a wide display of sweets called mithai often presented in boxes.
The markets themselves had music playing through loudspeakers and all the alley ways had Diwali lights covering them. As I have said like Christmas Eve.
Clearly something was building but you might never have guessed the scale of what was to come. All through the day there were fireworks going off. I had decided to stay at my hotel for the evening. Going out in the old town would have been a full on experience for sure - like going to Trafalgar Square for New Year but likely 100's of times busier and more chaotic.
The Kalyan hotel £11.39 per night (as I had any private double en suite) has a roof top restaurant on the 3rd floor and a viewing tower two floors higher. It offered a 360 degree panorama of the city. It could not have been better. It was a stunning place to be and to witness Diwali. Fireworks Indian style!
Individual fireworks might not have had the complexity or sophistication of Chinese counterparts but the scale was truly truly incredible. From early evening dark until 11pm fireworks did not stop. They came from everywhere. The bangs were unbelievable. ( goodness knows what the cities cows and dogs made of it). Every household in this huge city were letting off fireworks it seemed. 4 or 5 hours of non stop display. I am not exaggerating. Probably under exaggerating! What a show. The variety and scale were totally unforeseen and the Hindu gods must surely have got the message!
I read in the Indian news today that air pollution in New Delhi reached a record all time high last night - at 11 pm particles in the air in some areas exceeded 20 times the safe maximum. (apparently the authorities are trying to disuade people from letting off fireworks - ha!) I can believe it although while there was a cordite smell in the air in Jaipur it did not seem that bad. I am off to New Delhi later today - so let's hope it clears a bit!
My pictures aren't great. Not easy to photograph fireworks I have found with a mob camera!
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| Shopping for flowers and sweets. A frenzied atmosphere. |
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