Diwali

Finaly Diwali is over. The whole neighbourhood has been like a warzone for three days. Kids blowing off fire crackers all day (and all night) long. It´s been perilous to go outside! And difficult to sleep with all the noise. Besides the crackers, people light oil lamps outside their houses every evening for three days. That, on the other hand, is beautiful. Divali is the festival of lights, it´s to celebrate the god Rama (there are soo many diffrent gods, it´s hard to keep track of them all). The crackers are meant to scare away the demons.
The first eveing of the festival we went to a restaurant on top of a roof in the middle of Mysore, so that we could see the fireworks. There was so much smoke from the fireworks that it was hard to see them! What we did see were rats! Climbing a pillar just next to the kitchen!
After that we took a walk in town among workshops and the everyday life of town, and took pictures. That was great fun! Most people are happy to pose, if you just ask them. Just one old woman wanted 10 rupees. I will try to put up some pics here if I manage...