Crackers, sweets, gifts, delicacies and meeting relatives, defined the festival of Diwali for me as a child. Buying crackers with my parents was the most exciting part about this festival of lights. The 100 year old abode would get lit up a week before the celebration day, making it a treat for the eyes.
The million dollar question every year would be, which sweets or gifts were to be exchanged with friends and family. My mother would always try to make her choice of gift stand out from the commoners like Motichoor Laddoos, Kaju Katli or Ras Malai. Each one better than the other. Mother often went to great lengths to ensure that we were not doing the cliche`d sweets. One time, we even sent out home made lime pickle. And boy! what a hit it was?! The dining table would be full of new gifts the entire Diwali week. It was purely delightful for my grandmother who takes pride in having the family sweet-tooth title.
I loved to explore my creative side during Diwali time. I painted beautiful peacock Rangolis at the entrance and special Alpanas at the doorway of every room. My sister accompanied me in some of these. The more fun part was lighting up the rangolis with candles and diyas. Every room, every corner, every spot in the house would be eager and lit up to welcome the divine Goddess Lakshmi.
There was something so mesmerizing about each ritual that was practiced during Diwali season that as a kid, I never foresaw a time, when I would be blogging about this magnificent festival sitting thousands of miles away from home.
College sent me and sis away from home, and each year, this time would bring back all the memories and a great deal of nostalgia in our hearts. We would often celebrate the festival at a relative's and pretend like everything was fine and that it's the best we could manage in the given circumstances. What we never realized until later is that there is nothing quite like GharWaliDiwali. And that nothing really compares to the warmth and festive spirit that one feels while celebrating Diwali at home.
Today as I sit typing about my experience from across the seven seas, I know the vacuum that fills my heart. I am in a strange city with a bunch of Indians who will try to recreate the surroundings much like what is in India on Diwali and make an attempt to feel close to the loved ones and relive the moments that form a sweet part of every Indian childhood.
To all those who cringe at the thought of boring relatives and painful formalities during festivals, I would say, "You are lucky. Accept your good fortune and celebrate with the most important people in your life-your parents."
[IMAGE SOURCE: Personal Camera]
The million dollar question every year would be, which sweets or gifts were to be exchanged with friends and family. My mother would always try to make her choice of gift stand out from the commoners like Motichoor Laddoos, Kaju Katli or Ras Malai. Each one better than the other. Mother often went to great lengths to ensure that we were not doing the cliche`d sweets. One time, we even sent out home made lime pickle. And boy! what a hit it was?! The dining table would be full of new gifts the entire Diwali week. It was purely delightful for my grandmother who takes pride in having the family sweet-tooth title.
I loved to explore my creative side during Diwali time. I painted beautiful peacock Rangolis at the entrance and special Alpanas at the doorway of every room. My sister accompanied me in some of these. The more fun part was lighting up the rangolis with candles and diyas. Every room, every corner, every spot in the house would be eager and lit up to welcome the divine Goddess Lakshmi.
College sent me and sis away from home, and each year, this time would bring back all the memories and a great deal of nostalgia in our hearts. We would often celebrate the festival at a relative's and pretend like everything was fine and that it's the best we could manage in the given circumstances. What we never realized until later is that there is nothing quite like GharWaliDiwali. And that nothing really compares to the warmth and festive spirit that one feels while celebrating Diwali at home.
Today as I sit typing about my experience from across the seven seas, I know the vacuum that fills my heart. I am in a strange city with a bunch of Indians who will try to recreate the surroundings much like what is in India on Diwali and make an attempt to feel close to the loved ones and relive the moments that form a sweet part of every Indian childhood.
To all those who cringe at the thought of boring relatives and painful formalities during festivals, I would say, "You are lucky. Accept your good fortune and celebrate with the most important people in your life-your parents."
[IMAGE SOURCE: Personal Camera]
