Tag: lights

Let There Be Light

As I get older, I’m finding myself becoming more cynical. I’m sceptical about everything and am quick to assume hidden selfish motivation behind everything people do and say. I don’t want to be like that.

Just a little while ago, someone upstairs put up fairy lights and hung them so they drop into our balcony. My first reaction when the lights turned on, was, “Uh! There goes my sleep.”

There’s probably a very good reason someone put up lights half a year away from Diwali. A joyous occasion, no doubt. Shouldn’t a neighbour be happy for them? I checked my bitterness. Don’t be that person. After all, wouldn’t I want others to be happy for me, if there was something happy going on in my life?

I stepped into our balcony and looked up. The long strings of light, began a floor above. They were spaced evenly and spanned their balcony from top to bottom. Their home glowed beautifully.

The bunched up balls at the end of each string peeked into our balcony more casually and at varying lengths. The scrunched up, messy balls of lights were as pretty, if not, prettier, than the straight lines above. Our balcony was beautiful, too.

Throwback to our illuminated balcony on Diwali in 2022.

Tags diwali, lights

Musings

The flickering flame

The tiny bulb burned itself out. And so did her friends. But the night was far darker than all of them combined.

“Oh what’s the point?” they sighed.

“But that IS the point,” said the divine light.

“Darkness will always exist. In the skies above and in lost souls below. It is your duty to burn as brightly as you can, so that even in darkness, the world can navigate.”

The night is long and bitter and it has only begun.

Shine. Shine as bright as you can. Till darkness gives up.

Sometimes life can be frustrating: Perhaps a loved one is unwell. Perhaps your own health is troubling you. Perhaps you miss old friends. Perhaps your manager spoke in an unjust manner… The list of things that can rattle us is endless.

It had been one such frustrating evening, not long ago. Being the night of Kaarthigai Deepam, I tried to put the day behind and hastily set out to make a kolam. It didn’t turn out too well, making me feel even worse. And then I lit a beautiful wax candle. Suddenly, everything seemed to be alright.

There’s something about a flickering flame — be it from an oil lamp, a wax candle, and to certain extent, fairy lights — that brings us happiness. Perhaps that’s why we light lamps at places of worship.

This post is inspired by two posts on Instagram, separated by time and context, and yet connected by light.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kasturika (@kasturika.r)

Tags hope, kaarthigai deepam, lamp, life, lights, spirituality

Miscellaneous

Happy Deepavali!

As is the tradition in these parts of the world, here’s a few Deepavali pictures 🙂

The Daily Post asks us to post something that glows. Nothing better than the glow of festivity, piety, family and lights.

Here’s wishing you all a very happy Deepavali!

Tags deepavali, diwali, festival, lamps, lights

Miscellaneous

Shine

This weekend India will celebrate Diwali. And preparations for the festival are in full swing. Homes are being scrubbed squeaky clean. Renovated houses are getting last minute paint jobs. Traders – both online and offline – are running promotional offers. And all of us are busy shopping for clothes and gifts!

The most important aspect of the festival, of course, are the lights. With every nook and corner being illuminated, the streets are one of the most beautiful sights to see this time of the year. Even the most common, everyday routes we take, turn glamourous.

As I was walking near a popular market a few days back, lights caught my eye from behind the trees. I would normally just walk past the glittery market, but this time, I took a detour just to soak in the festive ambience.

The lights are up — All decked up – Diwali preparations in full swing

Unfortunately, Diwali is also the worst possible time to head out because pollution levels skyrocket. It’s a shame that noisy and noxious crackers are still so popular. I’ll admit we used to burst crackers as children too. And it’s been years since we stopped. I hope you, my dear reader, will refrain from contributing to the pollution levels this year and enjoy the sights without the sounds.

Update: Big Bazaar does a fabulous job of getting the message across with their paper patakha ad. Check this out:

https://youtu.be/7C5gQLw3Yno

Here’s wishing you a very happy, prosperous and safe Diwali.

To see more shiny posts from around the globe, head over the the Daily Post.