Sunday, October 18, 2009

The thing about Diwali



There is something about Diwali (and Dussera too). It does something to the atmosphere around. The changes are so palpable. The weather takes a turn towards chillness. People are nostalgic about home, people take vacations no matter what ( my sisters colleagues have no leaves since they are in training period and they don't earn very high bucks either. But just for one day to be with family on Diwali, they have taken flights spending nearly half their monthly salaries and gone home! )It makes you want to be with your loved ones. It makes people scoot from office early. It makes you feel like cooking something special in spite of having slogged at office for good 9 hours. Everyone wishing the other person a happy Diwali just spreads the cheer magically. I am not sure if thats the case with everyone, but I feel so festively happy! As they say we should search for excuses to be happy - I do so oh so often.

Last year Diwali was my first one after marriage. The first Diwali after wedding is a very highlighted affair in TamilNadu. But I must confess, it started off on a very bad note for the lack of education. I had no idea, how differently it is celebrated in TamilNadu compared to back at my paternal place in Orissa. At my parents place, the whole day is spent in decorating the house and keeping things ready for the big bang in the evening. We spend the day fishing for diyas, counting the number of them still preserved from the past years, asking dad to scurry and get some more, deciding on which design to put the diyas and the rangoli in, helping mom in cooking the yummiliciuos breakfast, lunch and dinner. I always remember the night before Diwali we all deciding on the elaborate menus. We sisters were never of much help, but we used to keep talking around the kitchen and generally giving my mom company while she sweated over the dishes. Food and talks in the morning and evening would be spent on the veranda and terrace placing the diyas and then it would be cracker time! See...... this is what Diwali does.... makes you feel so nostalgic.

But last year, since I was not aware, how Diwali starts in TamilNadu before the break of dawn, there was a bit of upset emotions at home. And morning does show the day, so there was nothing to write home about for the entire day. There were forced smiles and uneasy reconciliations. But then, people learn. Last year I was a newbie, still adjusting to the symphony played here( I had read this analogy in some other blog and borrowed it :) ) This year, I was ready with my own composition apart from being ready to do my part for the original orchestra. I took my own time and space and got ready in the morning. We were invited for lunch to K's aunt's house. On the way back, I bought diyas (its not a tradition out here to light diyas on Diwali - they do so on another day called Karthik Deepam I guess ) . But then, a little extra celebration does not hurt at all. So all armed with the diyas and rangoli colors, I set forth in the evening to celebrate Diwali as I know it. Made some patterns on the balcony and the front door and places those lovely diyas. It is really heartening to see the diyas fight out the winds and stay aflame - it fills me with a very positive vibe. The words tamasoma jyotir gamaya (from darkness let us move to light) subconsciously keeps reverberating in my mind. The icing on the cake came when one neighbor aunty came and said "Perfect blend of north and south, only this apartment is lighted with all these small diyas and looks very cute from a distance." I had an ear to ear grin :D

Decorations done, I caught up with friends and family. What if we are not together, we should use technology to the max. For that matter since early morning K and I were making lots of calls. Evening I spoke with some very close friends and my mom and sister for hours on end. Dinner was parathas with curd and I made some extra coconut laddus to carry to office. (Diwali makes you put in that extra effort right?)An early end to the spirited day gave me the most rested feeling. Next year, I plan a bigger better evening. More sweets, more intricate designs, more savories, more time with my family.

It was a good Diwali, touchwood. And people I cared for had a good Diwali. I was concerned for a friend of mine who was all alone. But then, when I called and checked up with her, she had surprise company. My sister who was away from home for the first time, was also doing fine. The world does hold a mirror to ones own thoughts.

I hope all my readers had a wonderful Diwali. And here s wishing you all lots of good times ahead.

15 comments:

.. said...

Happy Diwali!!!
(Though it is a day late)

Renu said...

Amrita very nice post and true to heart..I think Orissa and UP celebrate the same way, and I like the way here neighbours celebrate..like starting the day with pooja, whereas we in north do it in the evening.

Wish u a very very happy Diwali !though i am late here, dont know why my blogger is not updating many blogs:(

Swetha Guptha said...

Belated Diwali Wishes!!! Even I love lighting diyas on Diwali...more than the beauty, its the whole family's effort and togetherness that makes it look complete and its very nice feeling.

The Furobiker said...

happy diwali :)

PS: add crackers also next time :D

Satish N said...

Happy that you are still enthusiastic and energetic about this festival :) May your spirits be like this forever :)

I am too oldddddddddd to enjoyyyy yaar, may be I have lost interest :)

Amrita said...

@Abhishek - We did have crackers but then thought of giving it to the domestic help.... her kids will any day enjoy more
@Satish - Comeon why grow up??

Shallu Goyal said...

no doubt u r so good at taking care of ur dear ones...thats y GOD is always at ur side ..:) GOD Bless u dearie...Wish u a very very happy times ahead..:)

Amrita said...

Roomie dear thanks :) Keep reading my blogs from wherever you are okie?

Jack said...

Amrita,

Yes, we do need a happy blend of North and South more & more. I am glad you had nice time. May you always have such pleasurable times.

Take care

WritingsForLife said...

HAPPY DIWALI!! I hope you had a fantastic one :-)

Nitin said...

happy diwali (bit late)

Rachna said...

Happy Diwali :D

Unknown said...

Happy Diwali to you (belated) and happy planning for the next year.... there is so many differences b/w the way the same festival is celebrated....heeee funny na once u get a hold on what is happening, my empathises

Chalo then, tk...

b/t I miss the Dalma my roommate used to prepare and always called it Dalcha for some reason... miss her and her dishes:)))

Ekta said...

hey,
on ur blog after ages!...belated diwlai wishes to u and family too....am still stuffing myself with the diwali sweets!

Salomie said...

Belated Happy Diwali to you!!! Totally true, there is something different about this time of year that makes me grin from ear to ear (hey that rhymes!!!) I also love diyas, placed some on my balcony too. Had a very noisy, sparkly Diwali here & thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!!!