Diwali festival is almost over. I say almost because I can still see my social media feed full of Diwali DIY and Decor pix. The lights in our balcony or the neighboring buildings still shine bright and cute in the dark November sky. I am still reluctant to swab away the Rangoli that I spent cpl of hours breaking my back for with my girl clan!
But all good things come to an end. As they have to make way for new ones.. tomorrow and after that. But it seems empty to not share this year's Diwali experience.
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| Diwali View from my Balcony |
Last couple of years, the efforts to have a very festive festival has paid off every year. I realized celebrating festivals as a nuclear family [after having a child(ren)] has its pros n cons. We get to form our own sweet customs and rituals.. And the best part has been the choice and freedom of making your own happy traditions combining your legacies.. At the same time we miss the affection of grandparents and extended family on special days. However, with video calls and excellent cameras we have been able to participate in each other's celebrations a lot more than earlier.
This year after the lockdown and stay at home phases for almost everyone - being with each other and doing stuff with each other has taken a completely new meaning though.
Diwali prep started for me as soon as autumn started kicking in. Taking out few days and doing a cleaning marathon makes me exhausted beyond thought. So this time it was a less painful... slow exercise stretched over few weeks. Thanks to a good house-help and so-so helpful DH n DD I managed to clean every nook n corner of the house well before the festive week. This ritual that I used to crib and get annoyed of while a child, has become so important to me amongst others. I don't know if N will continue this or not - But it sure gives me the peace and content! 😍
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| Cleaning Spreeeee |
1 of my sisters decided that we all should have a sweet-making, rangoli-making, diy-decor session together - ONLINE. Now we all are in different cities and also countries! It sounded funny when she initiated.. but the younger siblings can be determined when it comes to getting things their way. So we all obliged. Needless to say I only captured photos when it came to making Gulab jamuns and gujju style laddus.. Thankfully neither DH or DD complained that the yummy delicacies never made it to our table 😉 However, Murkul is the delicacy - Diwali at my place is rather incomplete without. So I had to spare 1 afternoon before I went shopping for N's Diwali dress. Diwali Murkul post went live same day! Oh yes... Sharing the joy of making something for the foodies is incomparable. Apart from that the new plants, freshly ironed curtains and new addition of diya lights added so much happiness.. The fairy lights have a special place in our family. DH decked up the balcony with old n new twinkling lights that shine just as bright as our smiles.. And I don't take them off until way past Christmas and New Year!! 😃 Another interesting activity that we undertook this Diwali was paint up many old objects in the house.. The family activity was fulfilling and is brightening my balcony with lots of colors!
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| Sweet-Savory Making (Online) Sessions |
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| New plants |
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| DIY |
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| Diwali Beauty |
Now what is Diwali without friends who are more like family?! We are practicing social distancing to the core but having just 2 friends and that too Besties is what makes a simple getto - a full bound Diwali Party!! Oh what fun the trio had! From painting beautiful diyas to enjoying snacks and doing the shagun ki fuljhadi in the balcony our Diwali was a hit already!!! When the day ends up in a cute movie with the newly set ambient lighting - kya kehne!! The kids could have stayed for a sleepover if it wasn't for us moms 😛 The conversations about future & the cool handshakes the kids had are etched in my mind along with my cam forever. All of them found it so creepy that I wanted to record almost everything. But I can't wait for them to turn 18 and then embarrass them with these videos LOLL!!
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| Diwali Party |
So once the Online-Sweet making agenda was ticked off - we set a time for making Online-Rangoli. Of course in our own homes with our own colors and papers... But we all did it together. 7 pm IST video call kept on going till way past midnight. The 2nd sister's Rangoli decor was to made of paper cones so she kept on doing till it was very late for us in India. 1 more Rangoli pic is pending in the collage. I am yet to get it from the 1 who brought up this idea of doing this all together!
Rangolis made by my Girl Clan
But that didn't kill the excitement of the next day! With Diwali gifts in the morning and some more video calls - the day kept rolling for final decor and pooja arrangements.
By the time it was 6 and the supposed time to do Pooja I was beyond exhausted (that also is an understatement) I literally asked myself - Why in God's name I do this every year!?? And just when I was about to get extremely mad at DH n DD for not participating as much as me - I answered myself this. It is for me. My Happiness. My Memories. Legacy I want to give N. The moment I became a little selfish - I felt better. I know the whole family loves the gathering, the pooja, the aarti, the sweets and the rituals - but like most things - the Lady of the House drives it because she sees the good in it today and beyond! The moment I reminded myself that - I was happy again! And so did my abode! 💟😍
Finally when we all dressed and got ready for the pooja it was all worth it. After the simple aarti, some more videocalls and some beautiful pictures later it was time to do the shagun patakhas. No we didn't do as much as we would have done on any other Diwali. But few fuljhadis, anaars and chakkars should not do more harm than what our vehicles do all year round. When the day ends up in few glasses tinkling and snacks to be shared with close friends while the kids have fun playing Wii or watching TV, it just can be termed as the Best Time of The Year!! Cheers to another great festival!
The best part of this festival is the colors and the light that is easily visible on not only the homes but also the faces of loved ones. The process is as cheerful as the actual festival itself. Its actually dreadful for me to take down the kandeel and the diya decorations after few days. I almost have to drag myself to do that. But as always - all good things have to come to an end. We have to make way for yet another chapter - yet another phase so we can welcome yet another beautiful festival that will only rise our hopes to the goodness prevailing around us!
As I burn the last diya near my Tulsi plant for this Diwali - I pray from the bottom of my heart that the scientists are successful in getting the vaccine out. So next Diwali - we can all make the trips that were held up cos of the stupid virus this year. Next Diwali can be even more brighter and joyful with smiles in the same room instead of tablets and mobile phones!!
-Mom.Reflections
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