The Festival of Lights

Origin

According to the Kaitian oral histories, the events that inspired the festival have thier origins from the time before the Breaking of Shackles. Kaiti and Makira, two servitor races for the great Obsidian Empire - one a servant; one a slave. The Kaitian ancestry lays the blame for the enslavement of thier people to the treachery of thier Makiran neighbors. This blood fued has persisted for millenia even after the last vestiges of the empire have been buried in the dust.
The festival is a celebration of victory by the blessing of the Haraj'jah and the symbol of her power: the Twinning Moons. If the Kaiti's bedouin oral tradition has maintained any measure of historic accuracy, the festival was a religious celebration to the great moons after the Battle of the White Sands. This is believed to be a Kaitian victory that took place near the current day port city of Adiya. Four bands of Makira raiders attacked two camps of Kaiti bedouin. The catfolk held the attackers for six days and seven nights before breaking their resolve under the twinning's radiant glow. Three tribes of Kaiti arrived during that final night behind the camps, unaware of the battle beyond. They were said to have been guided by calling of the Haraj'jah - the mother moon.

Today

The Festival of Lights is a feast and celebration held annually throughout the lands of Aashae. While the Makira do not follow such a tradition, the men of Kingsdown have actively hosted the festival in their major towns and capital, albeit without the religious influences. The festival in Adiya (or the "White City'' to the sailors of the Kingsmouth) is held over a three day period from the 13th to 15th, during the full Twinning. The Grand feast is held on the 14th, and most years has the Maj'jah in attendance. There are several traditions that occur during the festival.

There is a solemn ceremony open to the public, on the first night, that lasts for about three hours where dancers, actors, and storyteller share the story of the legendary Battle of White Sands as chronicled by the Kaiti oracles. The Maj'jah and his entourage are in attendance for performance.

The focus of the second day is the grand feast where many of the masters of the city serve all of their servants and guests in the meal called the Feast of Many. The Maj'jah personally serves the city's masters and dignitaries in the Feast of Few later in the evening. This serves as a reminder to the equality of the Kaiti people.

The final day is filled with competitions, feasting, drinking, and the celebration is ended by colorful fireworks launched throughout the night's sky. In more recent years, specially designed displays having be created by the Alchemist guild to add to its prestige and influence.