Saturday 7th November 2026

Yesterday, I said I would be celebrating Diwali, which is what the festival is called in Northern India (and commonly in the UK, too). In Southern India, Sri Lanka, and other parts of Asia, including Singapore where I was born, the festival is referred to as Deepavali, which is what I shall be calling it from now on. For some very basic information about Deepavali here in Sri Lanka, please click on the following link: Deepavali in Sri Lanka (2026) | Festival of Lights, Dates & Customs

Pretty much everything you will read in that link is happening here at Daya's home over the next few days. Indeed, this morning alone we had the cooking of traditional sweets in the kitchen, the thorough cleaning of the house, various guests coming and going, and various shopping trips to get all the Deepavali provisions. It is extremely similar to our run up to Christmas, and every bit as exciting - especially for the children, of course, who absolutely love it.

Another similarity is the fact that almost everyone goes home to celebrate Deepavali. Many people travelled home yesterday, but even more today, and I was outside Daya's home this afternoon when a government bus stopped outside. People were crammed into the bus like sardines, and as it set off they were hanging off the side. No sooner had it gone, when another smaller government bus appeared, which was also packed to overflowing. It looked pretty scary to me!

It is an absolute privilege for me to have been so warmly welcomed into Daya's family, and to be able to spend this unique cultural holiday with them is so special for me. Daya and Vino are celebrating what is called Thala Deepavali this year, which is their first Deepavali as a married couple. I would like to say a continued big thank you to everyone reading my blog, and encourage you to leave comments, as it is so encouraging for me to read them whilst I am out here alone.

Today's photographs show the preparation of traditional sweets in the kitchen, the government bus outside Daya's home, various other pictures outside his home, including the chickens roaming around and the luscious green view from his back door. The final one is a lovely photo of Vino that I took whilst I was having a chat with her this afternoon.