Diwali ディーワーリー Festival

Diwali Festival in Yokohama

Near the east entrance to Yamashita Park in Yokohama stands a water tower and light statue that was donated by the Indian merchants who came to trade silk in Japan over 90 years ago. At that very spot every year a Light Festival known as Diwali is held to commemorate the rise from darkness and to celebrate good fortune. This years festival was held for two days(in conjunction with the 150 year anniversary of the Port of Yokohama)

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1dme8-qDFk&feature=fvsr

The Indian Merchants association(IMA) invited many dancers and musicians, along with well-know restauarnts to colllaborate in a weekend of festivities. The word दीपावली(Dipavali) literally translates as a row of lamps in Sanskrit[1]. It is traditional for adherents of Diwali-celebrating faiths to light small clay lamps (or Deep in Sanskrit: दीप) filled with oil to signify good over evil within an individual. During Diwali, many wear new clothes and share sweets/snacks with each other. Some Indian business communities start their financial year by opening new account books on the first day of Diwali for good luck the following year.ディーワーリー（दीवाली, Diwali または サンスクリット語のディーパーヴリー दीपावली, Deepawali）は、インドのヒンドゥー教の新年のお祝い。別名「光のフェスティバル」とも呼ばれ、10月末から11月初めのインド歴の第七番目の月の初めの日になる。この日は新月と重なる。
この日は、ヒンドゥ教の女神ラクシュミーをお祝いする。
この日は、ジャイナ教の開祖マハーヴィーラが究極の悟りを開いた日だともいわれる。

I was rather diasppointed at the low turn out of people...as well refelected when the food vendors started lowering their prices to 'anything 500 yen!" Which is a bargain for hungry curry hunters, but I had already eaten my fill of Gyros.

I had a chance to try cooking nan. The business was slow and they had been letting the custormers try placing the nam dough into the burning hot oven- wouldn't it liven things up if someone burn-off their fingers! But I wanted to try anyways....they gave me a piece of sticky nan dough and I stretched it out over a large wet cushion(like a mitten) and the cook told me to pull out one end to make the tail or handle. Then flop it quickly into the oven against the wall of the oven. It only took a 3-4 minutes to cook and we removed it with a metal hook.