Now that I have lived in India for over a year now, I am
quickly learning to appreciate the autumn season. The weather cooling down is a welcomed
reprieve from the beating sun during May-August, and it’s much drier compared
to monsoon season. I’m not one to usually enjoy the cold, but being able to
wear a sweatshirt at night in Punjab is wonderful compared to enduring 45-degree
temperature. Lots of fruits and
vegetables are in season and one of my favorite street foods, chilly potato, is
on the market.
In September I had the fortune of celebrating Dussera in the
camps and in October I got to celebrate Diwali.
Diwali is known as the festival of lights and some people call it the Christmas
of Hinduism. This festival marks the
coming home of Lord Ram after being in exile for a number of years and
defeating an evil demon. People
celebrate this day by giving sweets to loved ones, decorating the home, lighting
candles, and setting off fireworks.
On the actual day of Diwali all the interns gathered and
visited the camp. We donned our Indian
best and the camp loved how we looked!
They kept telling us we looked so beautiful and it really made me happy
to gain their approval. We took lots of
pictures and everyone was loving the festive ambience. We shared sweets and fireworks with the camp
and they all seemed to appreciate it. We
offered them jalaabi, which are fried dough soaked in sugar, and delicious when
eaten fresh and warm. In the evening we
enjoyed a nice celebration in the Dholbaha house. Thomas and Manon set up a wonderful space for
us on the roof to watch the fireworks, including a bonfire. We decorated the area with candles and set
off some fireworks of our own. The most
memorable was ‘the Bomb’ it started with an explosion of colors followed by the
loudest blast that would scare even the deaf.
Unexpectedly, while cooking our celebratory dinner, our gas
ran out! Fortunately, we had the fire
going and were able to finish the dinner by campfire. I’ve never tried pressure-cooking beans over
a fire before, but I can now attest that it is possible. Although it wasn’t planned, at the end we ate
Bengan Bharta, Chana Masala, and salad all made from the fire and ate on the rooftop
under the stars and fireworks. Living in
Punjab teaches us to live naturally, and that night was a testament to what
we’ve learned. The celebration was a lot
quieter compared to my Delhi experience but I loved every moment. For most of us, Diwali is not a customary
holiday that we practice, but this year we got to partake in the celebration
and soak in the excitement that is Diwali.
I’m so happy that this year I got to spend it with the camp members and
fellow interns, it was a day I’ll never forget!
By: Margaret Arzon
