When I went exploring Sunday night, traffic was at an all-time low and spirits were at an all-time high. My walk through the neighborhood went surprisingly well. Despite being a complete stranger in the night without much understanding of the festival, locals were welcoming and warm. It was easy to enjoy some of the firework displays along with the neighborhood. One family in particular from Nepal was especially into my visit. They actually invited me over to their home and had me take a few photos of their family. It was a good feeling being a part of that.
During my walk I made sure to take note of how people decorated their homes. The most obvious thing were the lights. Like during Christmas in the U.S., many Indians put lights around their homes during Deepavali. These lights were much more colorful than any display I'd seen back in the States. There were also a few houses that had candles in little clay pots around the outside of their house. I believe the candle represents knowledge. Many homes and businesses have drawings on the floor by their front door. My friend Arvind told me they're called Rangoli. The drawings seemed much more stunning and colorful on Deepavali night and the next morning. I made sure to take a few pictures of them before they faded away.
I think a lot of people enjoy Deepavali for the sheer thrill of fireworks. So many people were making noise in the neighborhood deep into the night. Seriously, they were making a ton of noise! Deepavali in Bengaluru has a similar vibe to Independence Day in the United States. It had that same kind of adrenaline-filled energy that comes with lighting some dangerous fireworks. The air had the same smoky gun powder taste to it as well.
