G is for genuine hospitality and glowing light

I spent Diwali with friends on the West Bank Demerara. Alicia is Christian and her husband is Hindu. Back in Portugal I know some people who have inter-faith marriages, but it's all very difficult for the two families to come together, leaving the couple on a sort of emotional island, which can be very lonely and hard to bear.

In Guyana, though, people are used to dealing with friends and family members of different religions and   it was wonderful to see no tension. Alicia's mum was helping out with everything. I loved the fact that they involved us in the whole preparation of the day and night:

We helped making the wicks for the diyas - My right leg still has red bumps from rolling the 300 strips of cotton!

I filled the diyas with coconut oil and had a hand moisturizing party!

 And voila, as soon as the sun began to duck, everybody started spreading the diyas and lighting them, creating patterns of light in a very dark night.

Oh, the food! We ate 7 curries and learned how to cook some delicious desserts. YUM!
Thank you Alicia and family for such a special day!