Sparklers

Sparklers, or phuljhadi in Hindi, are small handheld fireworks that burn slowly but extremely brightly and are popularly used during Diwali festivals. The celebrations that I grew up with here in the United States were smaller, and we didn't use real fireworks, so the light we used came mostly from tealights and these sparklers. This piece was inspired by nostalgia and memories of celebrating Diwali, hence the heavy use of finger cymbals, commonly used in temple, and the recurrence of the "Hare Krishna" mantra as a melody, first introduced in the cellos. The harmonies I used are intended to evoke the warmth and comfort I find in these memories, especially as I've been away from family at college during the holiday the past few years.