It'll be a north Indian Diwali for me in Dehradun. I got to go to the market and get Mehendi done on Dhanteras. O

Getting my Mehindi done Before I got all the mehindi off which I got off by scrapping it with my nails. Color came out nice this morning. finallly

I got my first ever Diwali gift from my boss and his family.

Such a lovely shawl and it'll come in handy here and in NY since it will be winter when I get back. I may wear it tomorrow over my suit since Dehradun can be chilly. Yay for another opportunity to wear native Indian. 

Today was supposed to be a work day but the staff decided to take today off. So I was told it is festival mode now. So spent the day watching Hindi movies without subtitles, chatting with my boss' wife and comparing henna with their daughter. The house is being prepared for winter and tomorrow's Diwali celebrations. Lakshmi's footsteps in form of stickers have been put on the steps. Lights were put up and I helped roll the wicks for the diyas. Learning bit by bit about Diwali. Lights should be on throughout the night for Goddess Lakmshi to find your house on the moonless night.

 

It's Diwali. Late day for me well with the family. Starting to get back into old routine of working out in the morning. I made my first rangoli in the office after helping the family make theirs. I helped get the diyas ready after collecting them from around the flat and office that were put out last night by the drains. Preparations for diwali are done and after a heavy lunch of east Asian cuisine its time to rest before the festivities continue with my boss' family. I get to wear on of the suits I got in Secunderabad. :) Think I'll close this post out and post another one about tonight's festivities. I think tomorrow is a working day. So far I haven't participated in setting off fireworks.