Thursday is “Deepavali” in Singapore. This is an Indian holiday, the Festival of Lights, and it’s a holiday marked by the whole country (yes, that means a day away from the office!). They celebrate with food, fireworks (well, sparklers) and by lighting up the area of town called “Little India” where the Indian population (a minority in Singapore, but a healthy one at that) have the largest presence.
To celebrate and learn more about the custom, I’ve been invited to a colleague’s house to have lunch with some of their family and friends. Really looking forward to the look inside — of the house, of the local culture, and of this very holy of Indian celebrations.
What is it? According to Wikipedia, “The festival marks the victory of good over evil, and uplifting of spiritual darkness. Symbolically it marks the homecoming of goodwill and faith after an absence… While Deepavali is popularly known as the “festival of lights”, the most significant esoteric meaning is “the awareness of the inner light”… or the underlying reality of all things.”
Well, it’s official. I have a temporary new home at the 
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