Diwali - it's that time of the year again when the entire nation erupts into a frantic celebration. A time for decorations, gifting, and reunions. Not to forget the crazy-ass traffic on roads, the splurging, and the incessant binging.
Diwali in Korean Highschool
You'll probably think it's a joke but it's not :)
In this post, I'll share my most memorable Diwali story that dates back to 2011 when me along with wifey (Sadhna), son (Rishab, aged 3 at that time), and a colleague from Lionbridge Korea celebrated the festival of lights in - lo and behold - a Korean highschool.
Don't get me started on the air and noise pollution. If you asked me what I dislike the most about this festival, it has go to be this.
Anyway, since my colleague was planning to pay us a visit on Diwali, we decided to shop for some Phuljharis (sparklers that are very popular on Diwali nights).
Roles and Responsibilities
So we were all set. I was saddled with the task of indoor and outdoor Diya decoration. Jalan would hang the Diwali lanterns. Sadhna would make the Rangoli.
Diwali in Korean Highschool
You'll probably think it's a joke but it's not :)
In this post, I'll share my most memorable Diwali story that dates back to 2011 when me along with wifey (Sadhna), son (Rishab, aged 3 at that time), and a colleague from Lionbridge Korea celebrated the festival of lights in - lo and behold - a Korean highschool.
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| Diwali God Idols |
Sadhna wanted an elaborate Ghar Waali Diwali, all the more so because we were away from our folks in India.
Ghar Waali Diwali
So we chalked out a plan to perfection for our first Diwali away from India.
First, we went to the biggest discount store in Korea, Homeplus, to look for Diwali gifts (for the uninitiated, we lived in South Korea for seven years from 2005 to 2012).
From one corner of the department store to the other, the search for colored flour, diyas, firecrackers/bottle rockets, lanterns, flower petals, etc. sent the entire retail chain staff into a frenzy.
We weren't going anywhere until we got what we wanted!
First Success
We managed to get everything on our list, most importantly the colored flour for preparing Rangoli.
In India, it is not uncommon to clean and decorate homes, commercial and government buildings, etc. before Diwali.
Ghar Waali Diwali
So we chalked out a plan to perfection for our first Diwali away from India.
First, we went to the biggest discount store in Korea, Homeplus, to look for Diwali gifts (for the uninitiated, we lived in South Korea for seven years from 2005 to 2012).
From one corner of the department store to the other, the search for colored flour, diyas, firecrackers/bottle rockets, lanterns, flower petals, etc. sent the entire retail chain staff into a frenzy.
We weren't going anywhere until we got what we wanted!
First Success
We managed to get everything on our list, most importantly the colored flour for preparing Rangoli.
In India, it is not uncommon to clean and decorate homes, commercial and government buildings, etc. before Diwali.
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| Rangoli |
It didn't matter to Sadhna that we were celebrating Diwali in Korea, not in India. She was way too excited, and wanted our posh, three-bedroom Korean apartment in the heart of Seoul to be freshly painted -- just so she could feel at home during the festivities. Somehow I was able to dissuade her. Success number one.
Don't Freak The Dogs Out
Now Diwali fireworks is considered a tradition in most parts of India. And I wonder why?
People light up fireworks in streets, near their homes, almost oblivious of the fact that by doing so, they are freaking out the poor animals like stray dogs.
Don't Freak The Dogs Out
Now Diwali fireworks is considered a tradition in most parts of India. And I wonder why?
People light up fireworks in streets, near their homes, almost oblivious of the fact that by doing so, they are freaking out the poor animals like stray dogs.
Don't get me started on the air and noise pollution. If you asked me what I dislike the most about this festival, it has go to be this.
Anyway, since my colleague was planning to pay us a visit on Diwali, we decided to shop for some Phuljharis (sparklers that are very popular on Diwali nights).
Roles and Responsibilities
So we were all set. I was saddled with the task of indoor and outdoor Diya decoration. Jalan would hang the Diwali lanterns. Sadhna would make the Rangoli.
 |
| Diyas Decoration |
Since Diwali is hailed as the biggest (possibly the brightest as well if you discount Holi) of all Hindu festivals, it is a custom to pray before we start any celebration. The historical significance behind this is: Lord Rama returned from exile to his kingdom after 14 years, and everyone planted little lanterns outside their homes to welcome him and grace the occasion.
On the D-day
At the setting of the sun, we ventured into a Korean highschool - our hunting ground for bursting firecrackers. We were doing fine for about 30 minutes, until the security guard spotted the fantastic four and shooed us away.
Shaken, Not Stirred
In no mood to allow anyone dampen our festive spirits, we returned to our apartment. And here's what we did.
We lit the candles and diyas again. From the balcony of our eighth floor apartment, Jalan started to fiddle with bottle rockets by placing the stick in an empty bottle and then igniting the rocket engine. Rishab's excitement was to be seen during the first moments of its flight. Simply put, priceless.
Fun-O-Mania
The fun continued throughout the night - with gambling first, followed by two back-to-back Bollywood flicks.
Who could've possibly imagined a Diwali away from home will turn out to be our most memorable to date!
On the D-day
At the setting of the sun, we ventured into a Korean highschool - our hunting ground for bursting firecrackers. We were doing fine for about 30 minutes, until the security guard spotted the fantastic four and shooed us away.
Shaken, Not Stirred
In no mood to allow anyone dampen our festive spirits, we returned to our apartment. And here's what we did.
We lit the candles and diyas again. From the balcony of our eighth floor apartment, Jalan started to fiddle with bottle rockets by placing the stick in an empty bottle and then igniting the rocket engine. Rishab's excitement was to be seen during the first moments of its flight. Simply put, priceless.
Fun-O-Mania
The fun continued throughout the night - with gambling first, followed by two back-to-back Bollywood flicks.
Who could've possibly imagined a Diwali away from home will turn out to be our most memorable to date!
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