Today is "Kali Chaudas", ie Black 14th day -- sounds serious, but really it means that the moon has almost waned and this day is the dark day before tomorrow's Deepavali, Festival of Lights sets in. These few days are some of the most important ones in Hinduism. Briefly, they are:

• a) Dhan Teras: Money's day of 13th: On this day one worships money -- literally!! A few coins, representative of family capital, are bathed in milk and yogurt and cleaned with water. Business folks close their books of the previous year (I think)...and seek blessings of Goddess Lakshmi to help them in the material world, so they may carry out the spiritual tasks for the soul...or so is my wishful interpretation. It could just mean that we are a bunch of materialistic people, though, other aspects of this festival do not bear this thought out completely.
  
• b) Kali Chaudas: Supposedly (as my dad informs me), tonight Bhagawan Shiv will stay in a Smashan, ie graveyard, and scare away all the ghosts and goublins. I think today is a day of caution. Lord Ram was to return from his 14 year exile today, along with his consort, Mata Sita, and brother Laksman. Bharata, brother of Lord Ram, who was taking care of the Kingdom in his older brother's absence had vowed that if, Lord Ram does not return right when his 14 years are up, he would commit suicide. The residents of Ayodhya were waiting with utmost anxiousness the arrival of their favorite (then) Prince Rama, hence the reference to darkness.
  
• c) Deepavali: Joys!!! Every house is lit with candle and there is celebration all around! Deepavali is also celebrated in other parts of India for other reasons, such as Bali maharaj (a strong but unwise King) being vanquished by Vaman avatar (God Vishnu incarnating in the form ofa little Brahmin boy who seeks three steps of land from Bali maharaj, who condescendingly approves. In one step, the now gargantum Vaman, covers all of Earth, in the second, all of the heavens, and for the third step, with no other possessions, Bali maharaj offers himself to keep his word. Lord Vaman steps on him and sends him to the sub-surface (pataal), however, because Bali was a good king, just a bit skewed in his thinking, Vaman promises him that he will be remembered on the day of Deepavali)
  
• d) Bestu varas: New year. Hindu calendar moves is a few decades ahead of the Gregorian calendar. Deepavali in nov. 2002 will be the onset of Vikram Samvat (V.S. for short, representing the name of the very erudite King Vikramaditya of a bygone era) 2060.
  
• e) Bhai beej/Bhai duj: Brother-sister day two -- On this day, married sisters call their brother to their house and feed him. Per chance, the brother is out of reach, she offers it to Chanda (moon), asking him to convey her best wishes to her brother. Chanda is often known as chanda-mama (uncle moon) because he is the alternate, ever present, brother of mom. So, kids in India generally grow up calling the moon, Chanda mama, or Uncle moon :)
  

That's it on the five days of Hindu festivity!

This is an extract from an interview of Naresh Chandra, former Ambassador to the US. The interview was conducted by India Abroad in Nov. 2002 and deals largely with how he and his staff coped with repairing relations with the US post-Pokhran (nuclear tests by India). I love this answer -- read on.

Q. During Jaswant Singh's tenure as External Affairs Minister, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Congress alleged that American influence was more visible in India than before, American diplomats are now openly going to Kashmir to talk to separatist leaders. How do you view that perception?

A. I am worried about the level of apprehension in India. We give long lectures to Americans about talking to Iran. On Iraq we express different views. On CTBT we were along and still shouting at the U.S. So what's the problem? How many Americans are coming here [to India]? I feel more should come. If we have just ten Americans here we start feeling apprehensive. We have ten thousand Indians working at NASA and they don't have fears.

You can't have it both ways. This is not a reflection of our diplomacy or what's happening. It's a reflection of the actual state of affairs in terms of who is more powerful. Of course, they are more powerful. What's the problem? If we behave in this fashion how do you deal with Nepal or Bangladesh? Their politicians say the same thing about India and we feel very bad.

The problem does not lie in American diplomats. The problem lies in the fact that in every field they are more powerful than you are. So change it! By not meeting them, will you become more powerful? It is a sign of immaturity as a nation when we show nervousness when diplomats visit us. That guy will come and try to influence us and will go back. Why should he influence you? And why are you not able to influence him? Then we should shut down our missions and build a Great Wall of China all around us and live in peace like a frog in a well.

Americans will come, we will have to learn to live with them and deal with them.

In Indira Gandhi's time, they came in fewer numbers. How did it help us? Fewer they come, more F-16s would go to Pakistan. If they don't come here, they don't understand you. And if they go often to Pakistan, they become friendly with them.

I thoroughly reject the theory that American big brother diplomats are coming and influencing us. Take your mind back. President [Linden Baines] Johnson pressurized India when he gave us PL480 aid. Do you know what was the pressure? The pressure was to take money out of heavy industry into agriculture.

They were here in the hundreds. They were all saying 'bring about the green revolution.'

Advice from outside does not mean that it is bad. We are giving advice to Nepal in harvesting water for hydraulic power. We are advising Bangladesh to exploit its oil reserves. They are saying exactly the same thing about Indians what people here say about the Americans. I have faith in the Indian people and politicians that they can handle American diplomats. There is no problem.

Our guys should deal with them on equal terms; but not dealing with them is a self-defeating thing. We want to be a member of the Security Council and we are afraid to receive American officials in New Delhi! People will laugh. Such a cowardly nation - how can it deserve to be a permanent member of the Security Council! We have to behave confidently. America will see American interests, we should see ours. If you are suspicious then the game is over. You have to push your case and be vigilant. We should say we will act in India's interest.