Diwali A Day Early: Naraka Chaturdasi/Pre-Diwali 2013 In Little India

- November 2, 2013, Saturday, All Souls' Day/ Naraka Chaturdasi (2nd of Diwali's 5 days, day before the "Big Diwali" (Bari Diwali) Celebration)

- I am truly blessed with friends who are as adventurous as I am with experiencing different cultures, even if it's just within our small city of Manila. Siblings Melissa and Kimberly asked me to bring them to Little India, and show them around, especially since they knew that I'd be glad to introduce more of India's culture to them. It was also diwali season, the festival of lights, and the one of the most festive pan-Indian festivals.

Some sari demonstration for their elder sister Joanna. It was raining outside too, so we couldn't leave at once anyway.

Three sisters. Haha.

Pretty covered.

- We initially planned to go on the exact diwali date (tomorrow,) but due to schedule conflicts, we decided to go today, the second of five diwali days, called "Naraka Chaturdasi." Diwali is celebrated in five days, with each day having its own significance. The first day is called Dhan Theras, celebrated for the god Dhanwantari's imparting of medicine to all humans. The second, today, Naraka Chaturdasi, celebrated for Krishna's slaying of the demon Naraka. The third, Bari Diwali, the exact day of diwali, is celebrated with the Lakshmi Puja; there are many reasons why this day is celebrated. Aside from being Lakshmi's auspicious day, this day is a remembrance of Rama's successful rescue of Sita, and the people who lit plenty of diyas (lamps) to show Rama and Sita the way back to Ayodhya - and therefore, diwali is celebrated by lighting plenty of diyas!! The fourth day, called Annakoot, or Bali Pratipada, where Vamana, the fifth avatar of Vishnu, succeeded in destroying the demon king Bali. (No I don't think this has something to do with Indonesia's Bali Island.) The fifth and last day is called Bhaidooj, and is celebrated by brothers visiting their sisters, especially after the sister has been married and has moved to her husband's family; the sister, after marrying, has less opportunities to join her own family in many events, as she is considered as part of her husband's family after marriage. Bhaidooj is a good reason/excuse to reunite brothers with their sisters, bringing them gifts, and praying for each other's good life.

- This year, diwali coincided with All Souls' Day, a national and special non-working holiday, which meant that Assad Cafe, the restaurant, was closed; we wanted to eat some Indian food to maximize our "Indian Day." Still, Kimberly and Melissa wanted to make the most out of our Indian Day by trying on saris while going around the Hindu Temple.

Up the stairs.

- Inside the temple, we were able to meet Ashok Maharaj, the high priest of the temple. I am glad he has not forgotten me. We meet almost every year, and usually during diwali, when it has become a routine for me to visit the temple to pay respects to the Hindu gods, despite not being a Hindu myself. Speaking of diwali and routiens, SM Mall of Asia has also been continuing to host the annual diwali celebration, although I wasn't able to attend that event today because I had to attend another personal event.

- Ashok Maharaj talked to us a bit, and another man (no photo,) Mr. Deepak, entertained us. Ashok Maharaj gave us some prasad (food offerings later distributed to everyone in the temple,) and Mr. Deepak gave us some photos of Krishna and Durga Maa. I thought it was nice of them to do those for us.

With Ashok Maharaj, the high priest, and my friend.

- We spent the rest of the afternoon taking some photos inside the temple, and eating. We went to the newly-opened Legend of India grocery, a grocery-branch of the Legend of India restaurant in Jupiter Street, Makati. Their samosas were huge!! (They cost 20php each. Not bad I think.) After that, we went to Assad Minimart and bought some sweets for us to munch on. Since Assad Cafe was closed, we decided to go to Jollibee to have our afternoon meal, including the sweets we just bought. The groceries were indeed busy because many Indians were doing their panic-shopping for diwali. Well, at lest the tradition is still very much alive within the Indian migrant community here.

Did her hair, and Kim's too.

Indianized!!

They wanted to have a photo with Shiva and his family. 

With Ganesh (and Shiva.)

She matches with  this year's blue motif!!

2 prasad on her head.

I did her fishtail braid.

Fixing Melissa's sari.

With the newly-bathed, and not-yet-dressed Surabhi.

The Hindu Temple.

Her last bite of samosa.

My Indian sweets!!

- Melissa and Kimberly went to SM MOA to attend the diwali event, while I had to go home to fix myself for my night's event. Despite this, I was glad that I was able to celebrate diwali, although a day earlier, and even more glad because I had good friends who somehow share my interest for cultures and were willing to open themselves not only to India's colorful cultures, but to other cultures as well.