Installing the lights
Some of the guests leave the following morning, amongst them Ishwor and his little family. Pushba has an elegant silk shawl draped across her shoulders along with a small purse. Ishwor carries a day pack and Lackpa heaves the heavy weight baby onto his back in a basket, held by the single forehead strap.
Finally, we’re ready to start the installation. Armed with bags of lights and batteries (all carefully numbered with nail polish) Kumar, Anthony and I head towards 1st uncle’s house (Netra’s house was lit earlier in readiness for the wedding). Anthony has the unenviable job of screwing the light into the chosen position in one of the low ceiling beams with an inadequate screwdriver given to him by Muni. In each home, the only light to work by comes through the open door, which is shaded by the traditional deep verandah. The smoke from the constantly burning fire stings the eyes and sears already sore throats. The beam is as hard as ebony, having been exposed to it for decades. I have the much easier task of tying up the spare wire and handing the family a photo of our family. Interest is immediately sparked. We are suddenly not the strange invaders of the privacy of their home but accessible and approachable human beings. They exclaim with admiration. The portrait will be hung amongst other rare and precious photos of family on the inside wall of the verandah.
Anthony is like the Pied Piper, as we travel from house to house, down the terraces, each family from the previously lit home joining the procession. All have given careful consideration to the placement of not only the light but also the battery. In most homes it will be housed on a shelf near the back door between the pots and pans. In one home a convenient small alcove in the wall is indicated. Only when the light is turned on do we realize that the space is to be shared with a broody hen!
In the evening we dine at the teacher’s house. Amidst the family gathered around the fire is an active toddler, a little girl who explores with delight the newly illuminated shelves and who pirouettes in the light’s beam, stopping frequently to hold her arms up to it.