Divali Day!

We all tried to dress in our Indian "Sunday Best" clothes for this famous festival of lights. The school did a fireworks display for the students and it was pretty exciting! There were a couple of special high bursts that got applause. For those who don't know the origin of this holiday, here's a little blurb on it:

The Philosophy
Whatever the story, Divali is a very special occasion for Hindus throughout the world. The many ceremonies signify one's journey and the qualities that should be fostered for Self-enlightenment. One is reminded to wake up from the slumber of ignorance and to pursue knowledge. As light dispels darkness, so should knowledge dispel ignorance. Through learning, man is expected to advance to the stage of enlightenment in which he realizes that God is the Light of lights, and that God brings warmth, love and illumination to all beings and therefore there can be no light greater than God. The aim of Divali celebrations is to get man moving on the spiritual path and ultimately attain illumination by becoming one with God. As they light the lamps in their houses, those celebrating Divali are reminded to light the lamps of wisdom, goodness and God-consciousness in themselves. It is through this, that they can attain the "Light of Lights" - God.


Students gather to watch the fireworks.


One of the staff members holding a Roman Candle. Super dangerous. Welcome to India!


Here I am posing with three cute students, one whose name I know. It's SUPER difficult for me to remember their names.


Melissa, Venillimarie, Holly and Ann in their special attire. Venillimarie is LDS and works here at RSO as a "House Mother" in one of the boy's rooms.


Vel, our driver, and Holly in her lovely sari! She had it made for her in a village we shopped in last Saturday.


The kids loved splashing around in the HUGE puddle of rain water in the front yard after the fireworks. The event was PURE chaos. Very, very Indian!



One of the students wanted me to video her and show her the video on my camera. I was fine with that, but when she then tried to grab my camera and run and show others, I had to nix her enthusiasm of becoming the next Bollywood Star.