Tihar and the magic tikka dance

So Tihar is like Halloween, Fourth of July and Christmas all rolled into one. Every night of the festival kids light firecrackers EVERYWHERE. And I don't mean little wimp firecrackers. I mean legit rockets being lit on roofs with sparks landing all over their neighbors' crops. The fireworks started right when the sun went down and last all night long. Mye ars are still ringing from the sounds of roman candles. Everyone decorates their houses with christmas lights and candles. We settled on one string of lights around the door, but the backdoor neighbor strung lights from roof the floor all the way across the front of the house. It was like the neighbors were competing with Tribuvhan International Airport for air traffic control.
Groups of little boys go from house to house at night singing songs for roti and money. Binod pulled in like 250Rs one night. The songs are really funny, the kids make them up as they go. The only rule is that at the end of every line they all shout "dosuya."
I went with Min to his friend's house one of the days and the men were all doing the same thing. They were standing in a circle singing and at the end of each stanza someone would go in the middle of the circle and start dancing while everyone would clap in rythym. It was only for the men but Min insisted I join in on the magic tikka dance. When I entered the circle, a little girl followed me. When her sister freaked out she grabbed onto my belt loop so say that she was standing her ground. Soon enough all the little girls joined in despite their mothers' protests. It was like I started a mini revolution. Susan B. Anthony, watch out!
The last day is devoted to brothers so Binod sat on the floor of the kitchen while his sisters drew tikka marks on his forehead in all different colors. Then we ate roti til we wanted to puke. I am still bleeding pure starch.
Halloween came and went and I tried to get the kids to trick-or-treat with me but they didn't catch on. I dressed up as a big lobster with stuff I found around the house and they still didn't get it. I ended up finishing off the last of my ginormous Toblerone in a completely depressed state. Now I am out of chocolate. Must go buy more...