The Deepavali week came to a close today. It has meant a lot of fire, fireworks, lights, lamps, sweets, sounds and celebrations. From this tiny corner of the country, in a campus that also becomes noisy and boisterous, here are images and videos of a different type of Deepavali.
Traditionally, people here light lamps using the most beautifully sustainable structure. They harvest a banana plant, attach bamboo sticks to the stem and create natural chandeliers that hold earthen lamps. Some a relatively simple, and have 2-3 tiers, others are elaborate and have carefully tapering lengths of bamboo holding multiple lamps.
Some adventurous folks also came together to release paper lanterns into the sky. A large ground was filled with young people, in small clutches of 5-6, lighting tiny flames that slowly inflated the lantern, and then carried it into the sky. Over the next couple of hours, the skyline became dotted with multi-coloured (and quiet) lights that gently went away in the breeze. These lanterns brought friends together, an entire community was celebrating together.
There is endless room for happiness, togetherness and joy.
