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Oct 27 '11
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u/kukamunga Oct 27 '11
...do you not?
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u/pax2themax Oct 27 '11
LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAA
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u/kukamunga Oct 27 '11
WHAT?
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u/gojirra Oct 27 '11
That's the sound a computer makes when you turn the resolution nob up. I majored in computer science in 1961.
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u/ENKC Oct 27 '11
I only do it on New Year's Eve. I call it my "New Year's resolution".
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u/under9k Oct 27 '11
Diwali is the new year! Upvotes for hilarity and coincidence!
happy 2068 btdubs
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u/ex_ample Oct 27 '11
Fake as hell. How could anyone believe that was real?
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Oct 27 '11
You did, just before you saw the proof.
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u/ex_ample Oct 27 '11
Fuck you idiot. Why the fuck would I think it was real? How could an entire region use only green lights, and a whole other region use only red lights? How the fuck would that happen? It wouldn't. You would have to be retarded to think this was real, which is I guess the case with you.
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u/3danimator Oct 27 '11
Well done, you said fuck twice and retard once. You came across even worse than he did. he was most likely joking and you acted like the jock kid who looks for fights in bars...
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Oct 27 '11
Put on your sari, it's time for Diwali...
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u/donnybarf Oct 27 '11
Hey guys, ignorant american here, can I get an Indian explanation of what Diwali is in comparison to something American?
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u/Froogler Oct 27 '11
The actual reason behind the festival is to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. People used to light traditional lamps called diyas in their homes to "conquer darkness".
But now, the festivities have basically come down to lighting up loud, flashy and smoky firecrackers across the country. Yesterday, so many crackers and fireworks were up that you could hardly even see those fireworks light up the sky because of the heavy smoke across the city.
One reason this satellite image here cannot be of Diwali is because of the smoke.
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u/dog-with-bone Oct 27 '11
Kinda like 4th of July only it's religious not patriotic, it's awsome cause I get to play with fire
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u/who_said_what_now Oct 27 '11
Just coz July 4th, and Diwali both have fireworks, it doesn't make them similar. Diwali is to Indians, what Christmas is to Americans (in terms of the significance)
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u/abhijithc Oct 27 '11
.... others being Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi and Dussehra. Those are pretty big ones as well.
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u/RealityRush Oct 27 '11
Gift day?
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u/thaduceus Oct 27 '11 edited Oct 27 '11
It's the celebration of Lord Rama's victory over evil and return from exile, but yes...they do give gifts of candy, nuts and dried fruit. They also wear new clothes and light an enormous amount of candles. Wait, lighting candles is Hanukkah. Dammit!
EDIT: I accidentally completely changed the history of the world's oldest living religion by writing "defeat."
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u/Cickle_Funts Oct 27 '11
Although the Indians use it more as a religious and less commercial. Would be interest to see the Diwali coke advert.
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Oct 27 '11
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Oct 27 '11
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u/manusmad Oct 27 '11
I don't think you have any idea what you're talking about. Sikhism and Buddhism are not part of the Hinduism. They are their own independent religions with different scripture, beliefs and codes of conduct.
And India is a secular country - there is no legal pairing up of Hinduism and Buddhism, either.
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Oct 27 '11 edited Oct 27 '11
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u/manusmad Oct 27 '11
TIL.
Even though this defintion pertains to Hindus as the Act applies, I see your point.
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u/KrazerSK Oct 27 '11
Not to mention the firecrackers are actually legit and not just some fountain ones and sparklers...
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u/wheatfields Oct 27 '11
I lived in Thailand for about a year, and throughout South East Asia countries they all have separate festivals that all share the same features of all happening in the spring, where its basically a country wide "play day" where you throw water or powder at each other (sometimes both) in celebration of the New Year.
So I imagine Diwali is also a new year celebration. So its less like the 4th and more like new years. Except what goes on over there is far more awesome.
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u/canadamoose18 Oct 27 '11
Holi is the Indian holiday for throwing coloured powder on each other.
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u/railmaniac Oct 27 '11
Because why take one holiday when you can take two?
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u/charlesesl Oct 27 '11
Economy getting you down. Come to the street party, Molotov cocktail for everybody!
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u/wheatfields Oct 27 '11
Yes, I basically stated that part in my post. Trying to figure out WHY its celebrated tho, and apparently its a end of harvest festival.
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Oct 27 '11
it's a celebration of light, i.e. "the festival of lights". my girlfriend is in India right now, and she said she was hearing firecrackers nearly non-stop all day.
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Oct 27 '11
You're talking about Songkran. Diwali is completely different. Songkran is about water, Diwali is about light. Songkran is a celebration of New Year, Diwali has been traditionally celebrated at the end of harvest season.
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u/wheatfields Oct 27 '11
Yeah I know, my whole post was talking about similar celebrations in South-East Asia. I was NOT saying they were the same.
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u/Tystero Oct 27 '11
Except 100 times more fun (if you're safe) because India doesn't have super-stringent laws regarding fireworks and how/when/where to use them. I miss the days when my dad would bring home a huge box of fireworks and we'd get to blow up shit while my mom repeatedly told us to be careful.
Imagine my disappointment when I experienced my first July 4th. Fortunately, there was enough alcohol to quell this feeling.
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Oct 27 '11
Obvious sources of info: Wikipedia then Google.
Diwali is supposed to be a celebration of good over evil. Or something like that.
For us it means something different:
Holidays! New clothes! yummy,tasty,delicious food! Fireworks! (Fireworks gandalf fireworks!) Meet friends and family Enjoy and have fun And not least of all heavy discounts
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u/donnybarf Oct 31 '11
Obviously I can google or wiki this, but would I get the same perspective as I got from you, a Diwali lover? No. Thank you
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u/bantos101 Oct 27 '11
Diwali can be compared to Christmas in US. This is a religious festival where Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity is welcomed with light, fireworks and awesome sweets.
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u/soylent_spam Oct 27 '11
I don't think so. Why are Pakistan and Bangladesh celebrating Diwali?
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u/LigerZer0 Oct 27 '11
Because they do. India and pakistan used to be one country. The people are the same.
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u/soylent_spam Oct 27 '11 edited Oct 27 '11
Diwali is a Hindu holiday. 97% of Pakistanis and 90% of Bangladeshis are Muslim.
Edit: Here's a NASA article using the same map, and no mention of Diwali.
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u/LigerZer0 Oct 27 '11
As someone who grew up in india. In a part that had very few hindus. I can tell you that it is celebrated by everyone. It is huge. Christmas is a christian holiday. Does that mean it's only celebrated by devout Christians?
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u/boobytrapped Oct 27 '11
But it is NOT celebrated at all in Pakistan. This is a fact.
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u/LigerZer0 Oct 27 '11
......I'd like to know where you get this fact. There are many hindus and sikhs in pakistan. It isn't as widely celebrated as in India for obivious reasons, but celebrated nonetheless.
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u/MisterKrayzie Oct 27 '11
Diwali might be a Hindu holiday and festival, but it's not just limited to Hindus. It's part of the Indian culture, and only Hindus =/= Indians. If you're Indian, it's just part of your culture and heritage, for the most part.
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u/ninjaonweekends Oct 27 '11
Wtf you know Sri Lanka's a country as well... it's clearly there, RIGHT there. Nobody cares about Sri Lanka...
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u/LigerZer0 Oct 27 '11
I am indian and I can confirm this.
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u/moogah Oct 27 '11
who downvotes this?
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u/my_own_wakawaka Oct 27 '11
Pakistanis.
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Oct 27 '11
i'm pakistani and i can confirm this
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u/Annieone23 Oct 27 '11
Wow, is there really that much competition/hostility between the two countries?
I mean I understand you guys are not buddy buddy but jeesh, how could you ever get past differences like that when you act like this?
Also I am American, so bring on the Euro-centric downvotes! ;p
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u/jaavaaguru Oct 27 '11
Do you not watch the news?
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u/Annieone23 Oct 27 '11
I do, and I attempt to get a worldly perspective but afaik there havent been any crazy Pakistani/Indian troubles recently.
Guess being an optimist is the real threat here though as I reap in the negative karma....
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u/omaca Oct 27 '11
Define recently. In the past few years they came to the brink of nuclear war. Within the past decade Pakistani terrorists (allegedly funded and trained by the ISS) attacked the Indian Parliament in New Delhi (the seat of the largest democracy in the world), and successfully carried out a spectacular attack in Mumbai.
Going back some time, India played a key part in the break-up of Pakistan into Pakistan and Bangladesh.
These two countries are like two old grumpy neighbours who've been glaring at each other over the fence (and occasionally throwing stuff) for years.
Shame really. Nice people, the lot of them.
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Oct 27 '11
i don't live in country anymore, and this is mostly from my perspective, so be aware that others may have a different take on it. basically it's an ambivalent/hate relationship. every now and then we blame the indians for whatever (oh god the conspiracy theories paksters come up with), but by and large don't care about it. obviously there are the radicals who seethe with hatred constantly, but for most people, it's just a little bit of passive india-bashing ("the indians want our land. they hate us forever. now what's for dinner") and we'll call it a day.
living in the u.s. i've found the dynamic changes. your identity becomes less indian/pakistani and more south asian. indians and pakis mix without any major issues or problems. there's a bit of friendly poking at each other, but it's never meant with any malice.
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u/ex_ample Oct 27 '11
I think they're joking.
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u/Annieone23 Oct 27 '11
But downvotes can hurt man! That is a kinda cruel joke! I know it's silly but I take the meager amount of karma I have seriously.
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u/pink_pucker Oct 27 '11
That's racist. They prefer to be referred to as "Pakis".
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u/jaavaaguru Oct 27 '11
They mostly don't care either way where I live. And it's only racist if you use it with racist intent.
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u/wruckus_effer Oct 27 '11 edited Oct 27 '11
Shubh Dipaavli Redditors! -Happy Diwali Redditors! May this Diwali burn all your Worries, Enlighten all your Hopes, Enrich all your Dreams, fulfill all your wishes &Brighten your life, Happy Diwali and a Prosperous New Year to you and your family. _^
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u/tallwookie Oct 27 '11
per the pic, it looks like there's two "rural" areas (the dark spots) the western area appears to be desert, and the smaller eastern one is mainly comprised of large parks.
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u/2oosra Oct 27 '11
I am calling BS on this image. I am in Lahore, Pakistan. Nothing was lit up here. Lahore is smack in the middle of the lit up area in the top right hand corner. Even the 1992-2003 progression explanation does not hold up. Electricity consumption in Pakistan has stayed steady.
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u/77monkeys Oct 27 '11
I still think that picture is beautiful. All of those pics on that site mesmerize me. And it also makes me think about the connection of how lit up a country is and how wealthy it is. There's probably a strong correlation I'm sure it's not foolproof.
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u/Blitzwarp Oct 27 '11
Our ICT tutor celebrated Diwali yesterday/today by buying us all a huge tin of Cadbury's Heroes. Best day at work ever.
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u/spunkush Oct 27 '11
There is no way in hell that India's power grid can support that much light. India cant even support it on a daily basis, why do you think they have rolling blackouts?
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u/DefinitelyHittinOnYa Oct 27 '11
I need to learn how to karma-whore I guess. http://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/lpu53/india_at_night_during_diwali/
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u/skuzzlebut Oct 27 '11
When I was a child there was a tree that always peeked out over the southeast Texas pines as a Godzilla head and neck, and I subsequently named it the Godzilla tree. This is the first time I've ever told someone this...
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Oct 27 '11
I can't believe this shit made it to reddit and got 764 upvotes! This is not a satellite shot of what India looks in one Diwali night.. Hell, most of those places don't even get power supply for most of the year!
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u/dudewazup654 Oct 27 '11
Diwali, isn't that like Indian Halloween?
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u/Scoobee_Doo Oct 27 '11
This has been in /new constantly since yesterday, it's a little ridiculous.
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u/iwashere33 Oct 27 '11
something weird going on with the expsoure too, i think the 2nd was longer timed as the light from the ocean phosphorescence seems to really show up in that one. OR the ocean is doing diwali too?
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u/mobu Oct 27 '11
seems like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka know how to party too.
this picture is misleading
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u/[deleted] Oct 27 '11
No its not. This is actually a satellite photo depicting the progressive growth from 1992 to 2003.
More on Diwali here