There have only been three years thus far when I've been away from Hyderabad on Diwali. The first one was 2003, in the sixth semester of engineering, when I couldn't get bus tickets from Shimoga to Hyderabad. Learnt three-item-juggling that day.

Next up, two consecutive festivals of light missed in 2006 and 2007. Tried going for a road-trip with yathin, hitesh and t3rmin4t0r, but it turned out to be rather unfortunate - the car suffered some damage and we returned back to Bangalore.

Thinking nothing could be worse, 2007 proved me wrong. If you want to realise how awesome this festival, stay away from India on this day! For work-related reasons, I was in California last Diwali, and trust me, it was the suck. All I remember was calling everybody up to wish them, at late night Pacific-time.

All this lead me to believe - There's nothing in this world that can lead to a happier Diwali, than being at home, in Hyderabad, with family. It's only then when one can feel that festivity in the air. Promised myself that come Diwali 2008, and I would land up here. I don't burst crackers, I don't play cards, I am not even uber-religious, but there's something about this festival which draws me towards home.

Have a great Diwali, wherever you are. I'm trying out an interesting way of greeting friends later in the day...