January 2 / 2023 – Crescent Moon

Diwali – lights, magic & joy

When images of my first Diwali in India at The Rudraksh come to  mind, I get emotional... of course..!! What amazing October days..!! There I was in that paradise, surrounded by sincere feelings of devotion, lights, flowers and smiling people experiencing intense vibrations of joy and the most perfect definition of wealth. The fresh, sunny days, with a very special blue sky, were magnificent the whole time I stayed there, which made our hearts even more full of joy and excitement due to the purpose of such an auspicious date.

Diwali – or Dipawali – is a Hindu religious festival, also known as the festival of lights, celebrated once a year. People usually debut new clothes, share delicious sweets, light bonfires and launch fireworks and balloons. The festival lasts a few days and carries a profound symbology. It is a time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil, considering the aspects and circumstances of each one's life, our choices, our karma. It is a time of great religiosity, vows of sacrifice, pujas, mantras and introspection.

When night comes, people light the diyas, handcrafted lamps made with clay, wick and ghi (clarified butter). Families gather and beautifully decorate their homes, exchange gifts and enjoy divine delicacies. They do pujas for Ganesha, the God who opens paths and removes obstacles; and for Goddess Lakshmi, who comes to us, following the trails of lights and leaving energies of prosperity in our homes. By the way, one of the most sublime experiences I had during Diwali has to do with the function given to me by the owner of the resort – the preparation of the path made with figures of pairs of little feet surrounded by flower petals, which ran through the reception and ended on the altar of the Goddess. The path made of little feet represents Lakshmi's footsteps arriving and showering her blessings on us all.

I will never forget the night of our celebration. It was very funny... an enriching experience..!! The group of German friends, all the staff, neighboring villagers, the resort owners, Casper, the family dog, and me... all dancing around the campfire. The movements were an elegant blend of cultures demonstrating the diversity of human beings with a single purpose... to celebrate the blessings and privilege of being there, in that precious moment, under that starry sky, to the sound of drums, and the sacred mountains always looking down on us.

The fireworks announced the arrival of more prosperous times, as this is always our real intention. The dance that supported the ritual was a symbol of friendship, magic and complicity. The balloon flames lit the indigo of the night and propelled our deepest hopes and desires skyward. They are symbol of vehicles that carry the purity of our intentions to be placed in the hands of gods.

Everyone's laughter translated the ecstasy that flooded our hearts with so much love.