Diwali was never special to me… coz we dont celebrate it back in Kerala, as the rest of India does.
When I was in college, my friends and I used to decorate our hostel with lighted candles..and burst some crackers..ehmm..others used to..Im terrified of crackers.. 
In Hyderabad however.. Diwali is celebrated in a span of 5 days, with pujas, loud crackers and lighted diyas.. and the houses, shops and office buildings are adorned with light bulbs. Diwali fever was all around me and inadvertently, I became addicted to it too. I guess it was the forthcoming holiday that thrilled my colleagues and I more than the festival itself . To add the glitter to the festival, our employers gifted my colleagues and me with a box of dry fruits. For us it meant our hard work and dedication finally paid off
The day before Diwali, owing to work, I had to remain in office till late hours. On my way home from work, I was delighted to see the smartly lit buildings and varicoloured fireworks, that decked up the night-sky. It was a wonderful sight, I wish I could have taken a picture then, but sorry,guys.. I was exhausted from the day’s work. 
I have attached the pics that I took this Diwali – The box of dry fruits and its contents
Alone at home, I was happy watching the reality dance shows on tv. The truth is I was pretty terrified of going outside, due to my fear of crackers. Nevertheless, that dint stop me from taking part in the festivities.I cleaned the whole house, and of course lighted my diya, the picture of the diya is what I have attached.
Sweets being the essence of Diwali, the “Mitharia” virus are predominant at this time. Even I got afflicted by it.
Rangolis play a significant role in Diwali. The one in the pic below is the rangoli that was laid at the reception of my office
Diwali provides a complete treat for our senses, with the colours, sounds, sights, tastes and smells and this year, my Diwali was truly dazzling.
