Dear friends, 

Today I am writing to you in English because Chanda – my wonderful creative counterpart in Kathmandu – is also on the mailing list and should be able to read this newsletter and share it with the team in Kathmandu.

We wish everyone there a very happy Diwali! I just remembered longingly how beautiful it was being in Kathmandu with our team and celebrating this festival together.

Chanda sent us some amazing pictures that I would like to share with you today. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a multi-day festival in Nepal that, due to its importance and its cheerful character, can be compared to our Christmas and New Year’s Eve. What is being celebrated is the triumph of the good over the bad, truth over lie, light over shadow, life over death. It lasts five days and each day has its own special feature, some are dedicated to a deity. 

On the first day, the house is tidied up, it is decorated, new clothes are shopped and groceries are bought for cooking. 

The second day is considered the day on which Krishna has defeated the demon Narakasur. On this day you get up before sunrise, take a bath with fragrant oil, light oil lamps and decorate the house. You wear your new clothes (look at the great red dress by Chanda in the pictures! And really: everybody shines and sparkles during Diwali), visit each other, offer sweets and enjoy music and fireworks in the evening.

The third day is dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi (the goddess of luck and love) and is in many parts the most important day of the festivities. The lights are seen as a greeting for Lakshmi. With powder you form colorful mandalas on the ground in front of your entrance door, praying for Lakshmi to enter and bring success for the coming year. Also, private luck is being tested that day – with intense card games. I remember those very well, never entirely understood the rules, though 😂 

The fourth day is devoted to the worship of Krishna and Vishnu (the spouse of Lakshmi) and it is considered the first day of the new year. Wives bless their husbands. 

The fifth day is for the siblings. On this day the sisters bless their brothers with the light and they promise to protect one another. 

When we saw Chandas’ breathtaking dress, we realized again how easy and fun it is to have a beautiful dress made in Nepal. Tailoring is still absolute standard and the wage costs of the tailors are not very high. Even if we cannot keep up with these treasures, we have chosen to dedicate this newsletter to the dresses from neyo. too. They are all (hand-) made of cashmere, wonderfully soft, comfortable, and luxurious at the same time and they have one thing in common with the dress by Chanda: they were able to withstand her critical gaze. 

With warmest wishes and happy Diwali to you all! Thank you for your wonderful workmanship, your loyalty, your friendship, and your love!

Ineke. 

PS: The typical main meal at Dawali is Selroti. The sweets are called Gujia, Khaja, Jeri, Balusahi, Puwa, Puri, Khajuri. If you want to make them, then you have to google the names – to give the recipes would go beyond the scope here. ;)

Dresses made from pure cashmere or linen – ideal for winter, outside, at home, for the holidays. With trousers or tights. With boots or high heels. Fair and handmade in Nepal. Thanks to our Team in Kathmandu!