Snowfall on Diwali night... Unforgettable

Diwali 2008... I got to celebrate it in London and not with crackers... but with snow :)

Me, Sapan&Satprakash (S&S) planned to go to temple in Neasden and started at around 6:30 evening. Feeling as great Indian lady on festival day, I wore saree :).

That evening was very cold and drizzling but I never anticipated that drizzle turns to snow and I would be walking in that.

There was a big queue at the temple where we stood in that drizzle without a shade... After passing a bit in the queue, we came to know that we were not supposed to carry handbags&camera inside and we have to submit at the place they provided. I have done that with patience and joined the queue again.


It was so cold that my feet started becoming numb and I desperately need to move inside; but the queue was not moving a single step forward. I was getting angry that the queue was not moving at all... At a moment, I felt like going back... but controlled with patience. That was the first time I was so much frustated with the coldness.


Finally, they allowed inside and temple was good. I got seperated from S&S as there were seperate queues for girls and boys. After darshanam, I couldnt find S&S. Rockets were played in the sky and every one shouted with joy. It was good but I couldn't enjoy it fully as I was under the snow searching for S&S. I wanted to click the crackers and snow but camera was not with me :(


After a bit struggle, I could meet S&S. We had some snacks and started back. There was a big queue to catch the bus that drops at underground.


At this point, we took a decision that gave us a novel experience. The decision was that instead of standing in queue, we planned to walk away and catch a taxi to go home.


We started walking... in the snow fall and cold weather and we couldn't find a single taxi. My feet became numb and it was so hard to walk holding my saree. We found a taxis center and went inside to enquire on getting taxi but we got a badnews that they cant provide taxi and said that we need to walk for 15 mins to reach underground. I was worried 'My God! Just then my feet were relieved from numbness and again I have to walk 15 mins in snow!!'. But there was no way and we started walking.


There were few telugu guys walking around like us and discussing about me 'What a situation for her... in such a weather with saree!!. I wanted to tell them that I know telugu but couldnt as I didnt want to stop/turn/talk. I was simply concentrating on holding my saree and not loosing my grip.


We were walking but couldnt find the way to reach underground. There was no one on the road to guide the way. Every one with us were searching for the way. Numbness was extending slowly from hands and feet to my body and the weather has become so bad. That is the moment I was tensed 'Whts goona happen to me!!' My body was becoming blunt, weather was becoming bad and we were not able to find the way.


Though our hands were not ready, we wanted to take a snap as it was worth clicking that snowfall even it was suffering us. Somehow, Satprakash took out the camera and took few snaps. I just brought a smile for the photo.

Finally, we took a way and found the underground station... We were so happy to see that and took a deep breath. Now no more suffering and we started enjoying the experience we had. Took few more snaps and went inside the station. A train just left when we went inside. But we could board next train after 15 mins. We turned red as blood started flowing normally. We just laughed on the experience we had. Once I reached my room, it was so warm... and had a nice sleep.


Watching the snow fall through window is a beautiful experience but being in snow is not easy. Though tough, it was a beautiful experience for us as it is very uncommon to be in snow.


This line is for me:


"In London.... on diwali night.... wearing saree..... walking in snow!!" :)