Today was the big day. Diwali. The Hindu festival of light. In both size and importance, it's easy to compare it to Christmas. And there are similarities. There is a lot of gift giving to family and friends. Commercially, there are Diwali special offers everywhere. Decorative lights line every house or apartment. It is a special time to be together as a family. However the religious side of the celebration is quite different.

Across India, there are many different stories, that mostly tell of Gods vanquishing demons. Light being the victor over darkness.

Before the evening festivities, I visited the Akshardham Temple on the outskirts of Delhi. It was an incredibly beautiful but ostentatious temple. It had something of a Disney land feel but this did not detract from the impressive architecture of the temple. The temple contains around 20,000 carved deities. Outside there are 148 carved elephants, with each one being different.

On Diwali evening, I spent the evening with Sonya's family at an apartment in one of Delhi's suburbs. After being introduced to the family, we went downstairs for Puja (prayer). It was very powerful, with the elder, Sonya's uncle, reading various texts. He is a very learned man and during the ritual he helpfully explained to me in English the meaning of the prayers. I was told Puja in every household is different. Various prayers, songs and chants from other religions can also be recited. Families also pray for ancestors, with photographs of family members sitting next to statues of Gods. On the small shrine table, there was also a picture of Guru Nanak, the important Sikh figure. Just before the prayers ended, old business accounts were closed and new ones were opened.

Once prayers had finished we ate superb, home cooked food and chatted with the family. Outside firecrackers and fireworks go off continuously. Some were extremely loud, going off just outside the front door. Was jumping out of seat quite a bit! Sonya's family were fantastic hosts and so welcoming. Really enjoyed experiencing Diwali through the eyes of an Indian family.

One evening, I participated in a Diwali game of 'Flush.' I played with Sonya, her sister Achla, my adopted Indian grandma Krishna, and one of Sonya's friends. It is a betting card game but the outcome is entirely based on luck. You bet (blindly most of the time) on your three cards being better than anyone else's. It represents much of what Diwali is about. You always celebrate when someone wins a hand. The money doesn't matter. As you play with family or loved ones, the money goes to people you care about. At first it seemed quite a crazy card game, especially with such large sums being involved. But after I retired around 2AM, I could understand the appeal. What an experience.