India is a land of festivals, with numerous celebrations taking place throughout the year. Some of the most popular festivals include Diwali, the festival of lights; Holi, the festival of colors; and Navratri, a nine-day celebration of music, dance, and worship. These festivals bring people together, promoting unity, joy, and a sense of community.
They are in the way a shopkeeper wraps a purchase in old newspaper and ties it with sutli (twine). They are in the way a daughter defers her dream job to care for aging parents, but negotiates a higher salary anyway. They are in the way a city drowns in noise during a cricket match, only to fall silent when the aarti (prayer) bells ring at dusk.