happy_diwali neesh i think i've heard enough about christianity for the time being (not that i'm actually religious). so here's wishing peace, prosperity and happiness upon all of you. 041111 ... neesh (damn, it's not diwali by the blather calender yet, but it is here, and i wish for your well-being nonetheless) 041111 ... smurfus rex what is diwali? 041111 ... neesh it's a hindu thing, new year's eve, and it takes place on the darkest night of the year, which is tonight (the indian calendar runs by the moon). according to the legend (or according to my vague memory of it), ram returns from his banishment of 14 years to ayodhya, the kingdom of the gods, on this night and ascends to the throne as king. because it is the darkest night of the year, the people of the city helped his return by lighting candles, or "diwas" to show him the path. and so diwali is known as the festival of light. on this day, people light candles, firecrackers and fireworks, rejoice, eat sweets and pray to lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. (it's not just a cultural stereotype that indians are concerned with money.) typically on diwali you wish people "health, wealth and happiness", or "a happy diwali and a prosperous new year". to me diwali has no real religious significance, my parents are only very loosely hindu. they don't do all the millions of ceremonies, and they're not fond of doctrine, i wouldn't say they believe in all the gods either, but they believe in something divine, they actively try to live as good people (rather than just passively trying not to be a bad person), and they like to throw a good party. so diwali, for me, has always been a time of celebration, family, friends and happiness. that, smurfus, is diwali. 041111 what's it to you? who go blather from