The Great Diwali Lights Contest
It all started with a single, offhand comment. Ramesh, the new guy next door, had chuckled as he walked by Amar’s house and said, “Nice lights—very, um... traditional.” Amar raised an eyebrow; “traditional” sounded suspiciously like “basic.” And so, the Great Diwali Lights Contest was born.
Within hours, Amar was on his rooftop stringing extra lights along every available edge, transforming his home into a miniature starfield. Not to be outdone, Ramesh installed programmable LEDs synced to Bollywood beats, pulsing in perfect time. Word spread fast, and soon neighbors up and down the street joined in, competing for the brightest, most dazzling display.
By the second night of Diwali, the neighborhood was so lit up that planes flying overhead diverted to avoid the blinding glow. News stations covered “The Festival of (Literal) Lights,” and people came from all over the city to see the spectacle. Kids sold snacks on the sidewalks; some entrepreneurial types even set up parking spots for a fee.
Finally, on the last night, Amar and Ramesh shook hands on the street, gazing up at their street-turned-constellation. Amar laughed, “So… who won?”
Ramesh grinned, looking around. “I think we all did.”
And as they watched the lights flicker and sparkle together, they realized that their friendly rivalry had brought a community together, making this Diwali one for the ages.