Diwali

On Saturday the ashram celebrated Diwali. We didn't really celebrate until the afternoon.

The Family House and the Dream House all came over to the main ashram. We planned on putting lights everywhere and doing some fireworks and then topping it off with a special chicken dinner.

We (Dad, Mum, Sam and I) got to the ashram just in time for lunch. After lunch we just kinda lazed around until it was time to start preparing all the lights, they had already laid little clay holders all over a charpoy.

The time finally came when we got to start putting the oil and wicks into the little clay holders....I helped with this. Dad then prayed and after that they started to put the little candles everywhere.

When it became dark some people including me and Mum went around lighting them all. When they were all lit up the ashram looked beautiful or in hindi "sundar."

We all stood around and did a couple of sparklers and things that spray all these sparks....I call them sprayers or fountains, but we were all just waiting for them to let off the big ones. When everyone was ready we all went to the badminton caught for the big ones. They did a rocket one and it made the coolest sound. They then let off some actual fireworks. There was one that went up into the sky and then kept on exploding. You should have seen the expression on some of the patients faces...they were so excited. We did two fountains/sprayers next to each other at the same time and it looked amazing. Next they did the biggest one of all but no one wanted to light it so Dad was left to do it...luckily he ran away quick enough. The fireworks kept going off and Mum, Jenni and I had started going "oooh ahhhh" every time one went off. Rasheed got the honors of doing the last one and he was full of excitement. He lit it and then Sarin immediately pulled him back and then it went off into the sky, it was beautiful.

After we all started to settle down they brought dinner over. It was a special meal. They had prepared rice and chicken, it was very special for us, they had just the right amount of chicken.

On the way home we stopped by a firework shop and Me and Sam both got to choose something. I got a pack of pen torches which spray sparks and Sam got a pack of three fireworks. We got home and let them off, which was really fun because I never expected I'd be the one letting a firework off.

And soon I fell asleep to the continuous sound of fireworks.