A festival of light.....

Each year we have a little family celebration of Diwali,
the Hindu festival of light. For me its a nice time to remember
my travels on the subcontinent, which are still so dear to me
and to connect my children with some of the wonders of Indian
food and culture.



We cook a special Indian meal and light a few sparklers
in lieu of fireworks.....very exciting if you are 3 and 5!
I bring out my box of treasures from India, for my children
to play with and burn a bit of incense while we cook the meal.
We talk about the little Indian girl we sponsor and inevitably
I tell the story of when the monkey stole my mangoes......




This year it has taken on a little more significance for me.
I find myself viewing it as a real festival of light, something
to encourage and sustain me through what I know will be
another long hot summer.




Summer is I must admit my least favourite season and the one
I find the hardest to stay centred in. Perhaps I need to think
a little of the wonderful sensuality and beauty that surrounds
the heat of an Indian summer and somehow add some of this
to the summer that lays ahead. To stop resisting it and
find the space to relax and almost celebrate the inevitable heat
when it comes. To see the sensuality of it all.

I think I might make a little box, something to bring out on a hot
summers night, when the air feels like it is never going to cool.....
Some incense perhaps, some lotus candles to float in a bowl with flowers,
and a note that reminds me to go and take a cool rose petal bath.

....Anything to get me thinking of bare feet on cool white marble,
beautiful hazy sunsets and the whole wonder of an Indian summer.
I could dream of staying here or imagine walking through a bazaar just
before sunset, with all the wonderful spicy smells and Hindi music
floating about......hold that thought!

~Happy Diwali~