That's not a coup, Mum, that's just Diwali!

...so the cartoon said in the paper at Diwali. Not that we should joke about coup's at this time... but we were just describing Diwali tonight to some visitors. Basically while large tracts of the western world prepare for Halloween etc in Fiji we are celebrating an Indian festival: Diwali (as we often say as we eat Lalita's delicious Rotis- 1 billion Indians can't be wrong!). Diwali to cut a long story short is a festival of lights and a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. But we were new to it. Just as thanksgiving means large turkey meals, we noted lots of giving of diwali sweets, Indian costume everywhere, and fireworks (yes that's what the cartoon was referring to)!

When we went into town all the ladies were wearing Saris, even at the supermarket and the McDonald's drive-thru. Here's Rita at the cafe at Vuda.

and just as the kids wore Fijian costume to school on Ratu Sukuna day, Diwali saw them heading off to school in their Indian outfits, though instead of Sari the girls wore Salwaar Kameez, bindi (jewelled spots for their foreheads) and lots of bracelets. Superb. Next year we thought the Mum's might wear sari's to assembly too ( we would have to have a long lunch first of course)...

 

Waiting at Vuda marina- with the MSA (maritime safety) marine checker...

And then of course the fireworks. We didn't have a huge show at the island, its very Fijian out here, and besides we hadn't had significant rain in months and we didn't need any fires. But we got the sparklers out and holy moly! They were great. 60c a bunch, and not like sparklers as we know it. They spat out sparks like Harry Potter's wand in an out of control moment. For some reason I can't find the pics of the kids, but here's one a few days later of Nicole trying not to set her hair on fire.

OK that's all for this evening, but I'll toy with another subject tomorrow, then unleash this creation on the world of my friends and family... night all, meg campbell-back (yes, I actually just signed that name there to see if I can google it! true).