Tihar (Diwali): Festival of Light

Festival of light
And
Of shadow
Of course
One cannot exist
Without the other
But who wants to celebrate shadow?
The dark side of the moon
The deep ocean
Our inner demons
The place where danger lurks

We are not encouraged
To engage
To explore
To confront shadow

It takes courage
Which, when taken
Can be most enlightening


Tihar festival in Nepal, also known as Diwali in India, is not only the festival of light but also the start of the Newari/Nepali New Year. Newars are the people inhabiting the Kathmandu valley.