It’s the Diwali open thread!
Happy Diwali everyone! Today Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists world over are celebrating the festival of lights, the Indian answer to Christmas.
Even though I am a self-described agnostic Hindu, Diwali remains one of the few observances of my faith that I keep. Being in Jaipur at Diwali for first time in many years, I’m having an authentic festive experience with my paternal folks. None of those namby-pamby rain soaked dull English Diwalis this time!
Despite the fact that I got up at 4 am today, 16 hours later I’m still finding energy to do my bit to add to air and sound pollution to continue on with the celebrations. Given that I’m being treated as some exotic specimen by the family (and hot girls in the neighbourhood 
, I’m having the time of my life. Nevertheless I did have to endure all the comments from Chachijis and neighbourhood Auntiejis about my weight (or the lack of it!). My gran seems to have taken their comments to the heart, she has been over-indulging me on sweets eversince!
Since I am the eldest grandson, I’m currently surpervising an army of lil’ Singhs and an assortment of Bhattis,Solankis and a lone Varich with their firecrackers. Well rather I was, until one of the brats lit one of those annoyingly noisy jute-rope ‘atom bombs’ under me whilst i was working up my charm on one fine young lady. The smug lil’ pest is about to learn a lesson or two in humility. Do drop by and tell us what you are doing this Diwali weekend, while I plan my revenge.
P.S Dont worry guys, Weekend Open threads very much remain an exclusive Katy-domain. Normal Weekend Threads will resume next week.
P.P.S. As soon as we find a picture of a beautiful Indian woman celebrating Diwali we’ll use it. Picture courtesy of NehaVish.
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A Very Happy Diwali to everyone on Pickled Politics. May all your lives be filled with love, light and laughter.
Happy Bandi Chhor Diwas to the Sikhs here too.
A certain appropriate festive short song from a certain dodgy Bollywood movie last year.
And from me too
Heh… revenge IS sweet.
Lots of pretty fireworks over the rooftops opposite.
I tell you, it’s torture here in West London. Every family has their own competition going on to see who can make the most noise with fireworks.
Its 2:15 am here and idiots are still at it. Thank good my army’s run outta their ammunition.
Anyways didnt you guys notice the irony, the guy who lights those fancy sparkling rockets gets the worst view!
Still nothing i repeat nothing beats a Leicester Diwali.
The City of London is so bloody quiet – I find myself wishing some Victorian Ghosts will rise and make a racket. It’s time I move to West London. Tower Hill is just too quiet. Grr
Happy Diwali Picklers!
Katy’s visiting friends in Hayes, and then on to Shepherds Bush. Southall’s going to be lively tonight I would imagine.
Shit thinking about Leicester Diwali makes me homesick
Vikrant – Deep Breath. (Or maybe not – with all that chemical in the air – it’s sure to knock some of yours lungs dead.)
It’s quiet. I repeat. Bloody Quiet.
Neha – not where I am! Happy Diwali to you too.
Chairwoman – expect Katy to come back talking of loud bangs going on everywhere and possibly being caught up in traffic jams.
Have fun, Vikrant; you deserve it.
A warm and heartfelt Happy Diwali from across the pond!
“Do drop by and tell us what you are doing this Diwali weekend, while I plan my revenge.”
I missed the feast of the year. I was supposed to wake up around 9 am to call my friend and have her pick me up to go cohort and rub shoulders with all of the uncles and aunties. I overslept
I’m very sick, and I was up all night hacking and coughing.
There’s always tomorrow, though!
I’ve been getting texts from well-wishers since 2am and I have to say, although this instant communication stuff is nice at times, it’s a shame in a way how impersonal the world is becoming. Have been inundated with either texts or emails in hindi with dodgy pics of Amba-ji.
Don’t people know Diwali is all about hugs, families and most importantly, chocolate barfi? Humph.
So in true ‘if you can’t beat em join em’ style, here I am on the blogosphere wishing all Picklers a virtual warm and affectionate Happy Diwali.
xx
I’ve spent the day staggering around the house in utter pain.
I was at a Diwali party last night. I spent a good while in a particularly ill-advised Bhangra “dance off” and I think I should have done more stretching. I definitely pulled at least one muscle, doing a sort of cosack-dance.
Also, it was a student party and the cheap bar gave me a massive headache.
Happy Diwali everyone.
Happy Diwali
Happy Divali everyone!
Yeah, happy Diwali from Munich! (although it sounds like Nov 5, which is virtual war these days).
Just passing through of course.
For all you lovers of the white flesh (!) — and I know you’re out there — I must tell you that I had an unbelievable Bavarian pork knuckle with potato dumplings yesterday. Laaaverly! Kids liked it too.
I dont think people should be celebrating this imaginary festival here.
But Happy New Year.
Happy Diwali to anyone celebrating it.
Deevali Ki Shub Kamnayein!
Young Vikrant tells me that that is the way to say the equivalent of “happy Diwali” in Hindi. So if it means anything to do with testicles or deviant sex it is him you should beat up, and not me.
(Good open thread, Grasshopper.)
Happy Diwali
Happy hangover nursing
Desi Italiana – I hope you feel better soon. Katy and I also have the miserable hacking coughing and sneezing.
Happy Diwali to everybody —- the greatest thing about Diwali is the look on childrens faces when they see the fireworks and hold the sparklers! And on a personal note I think I overdosed on samosas and barfi last night…
Peace and Love to everyone
Happy Diwali to everyone else except myself.
I’ve been to a couple of Diwali get togethers over the years and really enjoyed them. Now however at least in Wolverhampton where I am from there is a lot of stuff over a two week period. There’s Guy Fawks and now Halloween which we never used to experience but has been imported from the U.S. and of course also Diwali. It’s all a bit too much.
On tele they were showing the crowd in Leicester and the lazer show that was put on. Made me think of beer and crips. Really spectacular and stuff but a bit heavy. Maybe I am just getting old and like peace and quiet.
By the way you have a great site. I often feel compelled to look at the debates.
So if it means anything to do with testicles or deviant sex it is him you should beat up, and not me.
This girl, does she ever trust anyone?
Was back in the bosom of the family for Deepavali and so quite busy with the preparations which involved an incredible amount of shopping. I live in the nanny state- fireworks are banned here- and being the less than law-abiding sort, usually smuggle in fireworks from Malaysia. It is really easy, even with all the hyped up security these days( Fortunately, I have the kind of guileless face customs officers trust
) ..)
The kids love the whole clandestine operation right up to finding a quiet corner in the local park and posting a watch out for police patrols. My luck ran out this year – the shop was out of stock, damn. Still kids make even the sissyest sparklers fun.I had a great time. My family didn’t celebrate deepavali when we were kids cause my dad was atheist so now that we do celebrate the fest, we do it with no religious observance but a great party spirit.
Did manage a couple of visits too this year, the one to very traditional friends from UP was great for the all the unusual, homecooked delicacies. Ate way too much this weekend, will have a respite tomorrow and then it’s starting all over on tuesday with breakfast at a friend’s for Eid. Also, it is custom here to give food to non-hindu neighbours and the muslim neighbours will reciprocate on Tuesday with tons more of delicious food. Malay muslims (followed by hindus) take their feasts damn seriously and there is nothing in the world like their fabulous homecooking. Surprisingly, it is the chinese -the ones i know- who are the laziest and lousiest cooks. The meal I had with a neighbour last year on the eve of the lunar new year was a nightmare.I almost wished that he had done what most chinese here do – either decamp to a gambling resort in the region or book a table at a good restaurant! Nasty of me, yes but the food…ughhh.
Vikrant, as no one has come back with “Katy, did you know you just said ‘I have three testicles’” I can confirm that I would now trust you to the ends of the earth.
‘I have three testicles’”
Hmm… isnt this joke in some movie? Cant remember which, Hot Shots maybe….
either decamp to a gambling resort in the region
Genting….weee… Mirax meet you this New Year’s eve!
Detest Genting, Vik. The fuckers are now going to build a resort in S’pore; just imagine my horror.
I think it is My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Hence I was on the defensive.
talking of movies, the screeening of Bride and Prejudice a few hours ago, killed off my festive cheer and goodwill. Before that there was another horror called bollywood queen or summin. What the fuck are you brit asians on ? Why the totally obsessed faux-bollywood cheesiness?
So after reading about how well Pickled Politics is doing, I’ve decided to start my own rival blogosphere. But as not to tread on your toes, I’m going to make it free from politics and any intellectual insights or debates and fill it with people who think Bride & Prejudice is a groundbreaking movie. I’ve come up with a name and everything.
101 Dumb Asians
I need 100 more members. I hear there are quite a few Brit Asian movie scriptwriters already interested…
Hehe B&P sucks and its got NUTHIN to do with us.
Why the totally obsessed faux-bollywood cheesiness?
Not all of us… though many are, Given that Brit Asians like Katrina Kaif and Usman Patel have hit big time in Bombay.
Semi-westernised Asians trying to be proper Asians to please semi-Asianised westerners
I don’t know what I mean either but sounded clever there for a minute
@Katy: My Big Fat Greek Wedding it is!
@mirax: Seriously, my step-mum just cant have enough of Genting. Neeways only place in M’asia i like is Penang. I prefer S’pore though except for Sentosa, Little India and the smelly Mustafa Market.
KH man hows your citizenship test prep going on?
Hi!
Happy Diwali to u and all members. Nice BLog
really good to see some Indian Bloggers.
just landed from Withinandwithout.com
Most British Asian movies are risible ‘gritty’ ’social message’ movies, written to faintly pander to the popular prejudices of mainstream society about ‘Asians’, grim and tedious ‘it’s grim oop north’ moralising kind of stuff that sends Guardian readers into somersaults of bliss, or hysterical, camp, over the top faux Bollywood trash (with an arranged marriage/ gay/ lesbian angle) happy-clappy multicultural everything-will-be-OK if we just play football and like, love each other embarassments.
Stop making films about British Asians until you can do something original you bunch of artless philistines.
I have good reasons to suspect #42 is really an intelligent case of spamming.
Not a fan of East is East then?
Naah… it was OK.
East is East was ace. Katy – well done on the Hindi! Don’t worry, Vikrant did not embarass you.
happy diwali everyone.
happy diwali weekend to everyone
so vikrant, where are the photos of these hot girls? you must have got some by now!
Happy Divali
so vikrant, where are the photos of these hot girls?
Well i would have but brotherly protectiveness has overcome me, compelling me to protect my cousins from Kismet Hardy’s eyes!