Diwali

Diwali is the Festival of Lights, celebrated all over India.  We decided to celebrate this year.  First we took a trip to Seattle, and went to see a three-hour, three-act production of the Ramayana, one of India's most enduring epic tales.  The production took place at the Act Theatre, which turned out to be a lovely venue with just the right amount of seats to do justice to a spectacular show but still feel intimate.  We have watched an animated version of the tale and read a well-made graphic novel as well, but seeing their play really brought the story to life and made it a deeply moving experience.  Jasper absolutely loved it!  We also got to eat lunch at Spice Route, which was so mind-blowing that I told my husband it was exactly the paradise I want to go to when I die.  The lunch buffet had so much wonderful food on it that I wanted to cry when I couldn't eat any more!  Right next to Spice Route is Apna Bazaar, which mostly has lots and lots of Indian groceries.  I found a set of colored powders which can be used to make a decorative pattern (rangoli) usually created before the front door of a home.  I decided to save them for Holi, the Festival of Colors.   We have two sets of diyas, which are small clay lamps used to light a path to the doorway for Diwali.  Most people burn oil or ghee, but I just use tea lights.  One set Jasper made from an oven-fired clay we found at an art supply store, and the other set we made at My Masterpiece, where for $15 you can drop in and create anything you want from 3# of clay, firing included.  (Glazing is $4 extra per average sized piece, $3 for 3 or more.  Our diyas are unglazed.)  On Diwali we lit a path to our doorway with the diyas.  One tradition is that this lights the way for Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune.  And we set off some sparklers in celebration!    They are also handy for scaring away evil spirits.  (These we had to save from July, since I have no idea where one can get sparklers in November.)  I tried my hand at making rotis, which are deceptively simple flatbreads made from just water and chapati wheat flour.  Hot from the griddle they were yummy!  I found this crazy picture book at the library about the magical powers of roti, Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia, which definitely gave me inspiration.  We had a lovely Diwali!