It's Deepavali. One day that every one irrespective of age, waits for! A day full of events, full of fun with crackers, new clothes, sweets and snacks, festive food, family get-together, TV programmes etc etc. Something to entertain everyone. And it is one festival that every Hindu celebrates so a nationwide festival.
How wonderful were the yesteryears? Until 16 or so, I would wait for my brother to apportion our share of crackers, would keep my share safe, would check it everyday, would admire my new clothes, would talk to friends about the purchases. For the next ten years, it was more of a family celebration. Around 9 in the morning, a Nadaswaram troupe would go to each house and play some songs. By the time they would leave, kith and kin that live closer by would stop by to seek blessings from parents. A short exchange of details of new clothes and batchanam would take place amongst the ladies. Amma would bring in the batchanam to all. All of us would have idli for breakfast (only day in the year when we have a breakfast-lunch routine). Amma would go to the kitchen and make her yummy bisi-bele-bath. And we would yell "amma amma, it's time for patti mandram". Half of what people talk would not be heard because of neighbours bursting crackers. And most of the celebrations of the day would end with the sumptuous lunch. We would wait for the late evening so that the flower pots and chakkarams are bright and colourful in the dark. Amma and appa would sit on the thinnai to watch them glow in the dark. And the day would be gone; we would have to wait for another year for that fun.
Talks of Deepavali started by end of Vijayadasami, and believe it or not I started hearing that "dasu busu" sound of a new saree worn by amma. This is the 4th year for us to pass through Deepavali away from home and 2nd Deepavali without that divine lady.
However I want Chinnu to enjoy this day. I hope we would be home for the next Deepavali at least so that he enjoys. We got up late, but took bath early, cooked early and prayed early. Chinnu is having some cold so he did not get a ganga snanam. Its only a prokshane for him today. He wore his first jeans pant and was not able to enjoy much because of his stuffy nose. He's having a nap now.
This year's deepavali will be ever in my memory. As soon as we got up I was only thinking of getting things done quickly, so I attended to Chinnu's needs and went to take bath. I cooked, offered my prayers and got DH's lunch ready, called up a few people that I missed to call last night, gave Chinnu a bath, put new pant and shirt on him, took his photos. There was something missing...and I just then realized that I did not brush my teeth in the morning. That's the special for this year's Deepavali :-).
Happy Deepavali.
No comments:
Post a Comment