What a treat to find ourselves in India for Diwali (or Deepavali) - the biggest festival in India. The "festival of lights" signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair (thanks wikipedia).
In Goa, you'll find several people making "Demon Narakasura" statues that they will parade around town and just before dawn will light on fire to signify the destruction over evil. This event marks the beginning of Diwali, after the demon killing, the towns are lite up with Christmas lights (or maybe they are called Diwali lights?), fire crackers are in full swing and India is thrown into full holiday revelry.
We walked around Goa on Tuesday night to check out all the Narakasura's - the event really doesn't start till about 11pm or so - you'll find everyone and their child driving around on scooters to look at the Narakasura's and taking photos. There is a contest to the best demon created and a parade to show off the creations.
In Goa, you'll find several people making "Demon Narakasura" statues that they will parade around town and just before dawn will light on fire to signify the destruction over evil. This event marks the beginning of Diwali, after the demon killing, the towns are lite up with Christmas lights (or maybe they are called Diwali lights?), fire crackers are in full swing and India is thrown into full holiday revelry.
We walked around Goa on Tuesday night to check out all the Narakasura's - the event really doesn't start till about 11pm or so - you'll find everyone and their child driving around on scooters to look at the Narakasura's and taking photos. There is a contest to the best demon created and a parade to show off the creations.