Happy Diwali

This is possible only at USC I say...trust me I know what I am talking about...

Well, today, Friday, November 5, 2010 is Hindu Festival Diwali. I use to celebrate Diwali in India with my parents and it was simply fun time. Click on the link if you dunno what Diwali means, it will give you some vague idea if not 100% experience because the real experience of Diwali is in India.

I felt lonely at this Diwali, well not that I don't feel lonely since the day I have moved out of my ex's life...but this Diwali I felt extra lonely. I didn't even feel like celebrating or doing prayers for the day. I love to pray but not at the dirty place which I have now and I don't want to clean after my roommate so I don't clean at all, oh well that is another post and a long one lol! And with a weird roommate and dirty place I think it is better to avoid doing what I love doing because I didn't want to make me feel uncomfortable. So I simply asked for forgiveness from my god, and I know god will forgive me for sure. I have faith.

Anyways, since its Diwali, so I dressed up in Indian outfit, wore bindi and looked cute desi, Indian girl. I reached to my class, and the second I entered the room I heard someone screaming Happy Diwali. I was so happy and shocked at the same time. It was one of my classmate from seminar class who knew what Diwali is and his wishes made me feel so so so happy...

Seminar class started and my professor came to me and wished me Happy Diwali. oh how sweet...I distributed sweets to my classmates, and we started sharing about cultural artifacts as part of class assignment...it was simply a blissful time. My second class started right after my seminar class. My professor, a hippie little lady, came to the class and asked me what are you doing for Diwali today? I was like oh man...they all know my festivals, how beautiful. I was so happy, and shared my plans for Diwali. She made me speak about Diwali to the class, and I felt weirdly happy telling my ignorant classmates what does this festival mean to Indians. My professor then told me how much she would like to enjoy the festivities if and when she will go to India...We talked a little about Diwali and India and also that American President Obama went to India on the day of Diwali...It was a blissful day, for sure.

During the class, we got a break and I went outside the class to get some water. I saw another professor who has finalized my field placement. I greeted her and she gave me hug and wished me Diwali...oh man, I was so overwhelmed with unexpected love and wishes. I wasn't lonely anymore, I was fulfilled with love.

It is possible only in the USC...YES!!! I met with three professors and all three knew what Diwali was and they werent afraid to wish me...how more beautiful can you get my lovely USC :-)))

I came back home and my neighbor's mother, who is also an Indian, came over and invited me to join them for Diwali celebration. She gave me sweets which she had made at home. I already had plans for the evening so I had to excused myself from the party. In the evening when I walked downstairs to leave for my party, I heard my neighbors and their guests were singing the Diwali prayer, and they had lit diyas (lamps) and candles all around their place...I couldn't stop recalling moments of Diwali from my parent's place and I called them to wish Happy Diwali though I had already spoken with them earlier, but guess its always good to talk with parents, no matter how much we talk to them :-))

Happy Diwali.

Trojan