Of festivals and newness

This is one of my favoritest times of the year. Diwali time.


It's the time of brightness, colour, festivities, food, togetherness, light, piety, celebration, thanksgiving, love, joy and so so much more. Dhanteras, the time to buy jewelery and new utensils, Narakchaturdashi, the time to celebrate and commemorate good's triumph over evil and of course, Diwali, the time to light up and welcome back splendor in all its glory.


I cannot begin to describe how much I love this festival and everything it brings with it. With all the cleaning and decorating, the pujas and diya lighting, the sweets and food - it's such a gorgeous time for celebrations to take place! The house just smells beautiful - the smell of ghee in diyas meant for the puja room mixed with the wafting freshness of burnt kapoor (camphor) to the smell of flowers, leaves and agarbattis... it truly feels like a  place for the Divine.


Shift to the kitchen and its another ambiance altogether with smells from gudd ki kheer, ladoos, mithais, pooris, sabzi, fruits making it a gastronomically never-ending wait. Of course once the food has been given as bhog (or graced by God) do we get to dig in, and man is the wait worth every moment! 


With the diyas placed all around the house (even in rooms and the bathrooms) and outside, switching off all the electrical lights and just marveling at the splendor of their beauty is what I look forward to the most. I love fussing over the diyas, bathing them with oil, filling them to the brim, lighting them and watching them glitter in the dark. 


The day ends with fireworks of course - with phuljadis and anars and chakras... and sometimes standing on one's terrace and watching everyone celebrate this festival in all its glory. I could however do without the pollution and the noise.


And last but not the least, it's a time to look back, remember and be thankful for everything we've been graced with. It's a time to think of all my elders and seek their blessings. It's time to keep everyone in my prayers. It's a time to remember those who couldn't be there with us. It's a time to remember those who have passed on. It's a time to make phone calls and scream out in joy. It's a time to be grateful. It's a time to let go. It's a time to have friends over. It's a time to just celebrate.


And now that we have new additions to our family who will be celebrating their first Diwali with us, it's also a time to welcome them by making them feel safe and comfortable minus the noise.


Here's wishing all of you a wonderful, peaceful and gorgeous Diwali. May all your dreams come true and may you let go of all your diets and inhibitions! It's after all, a time to CELEBRATE!