As the year is coming to conclude, and end of the year celebrations are beginning… strangely though the year just began for those who follow the lunar calendar. Both Muslim’s with Moharam and Hindu’s with Diwali just celebrated their New Years!

Just seeing and participating in different holiday traditions of the world in one country makes me feel very blessed.  Recently I joined the festivities and celebrations of Diwali in a friend’s house and was floored of how lucky I am to have friends who celebrate this Indian festival in USA with such grandeur.  Ranjini a talented friend and gracious host celebrates this festival every year with cheer and splendor.  She creates a feast with galore of homemade  sweets, savories, snacks and dinner entrees that I can not count or remember by name to list here. But this time I captured some pictures of the food festival!

Diwali or Festival of Lights , besides being a beginning of new lunar year is celebrated to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness  and  good over evil. This Indian festival is celebrated by Hindus across the world with diya( lights), fireworks,  colorful Rangoli designs, sweets and celebrations.