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Monday 20 October 2014

And I never went for a different "Diwali" again!


This post is written for

https://www.indiblogger.in/happyhours/diwali-a-time-for-family/

https://www.gharwalidiwali.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ7lMDWJOXA

Diwali - a time for family!by https://www.indiblogger.in/..Indi-Happy Hours!


Different phases of life come with distinct characteristics, every phase has a different flavor, but some flavors always remain carved in our hearts.
It is human tendency   to seek something different, something unexplored, something  exotic, so I had also sketched an image of Diwali being celebrated in a non-desi way...how dazzling it would be to have a unique kind of Diwali with a different stroke.




With friends and relatives living abroad, I had actually thought of at least celebrating Diwali once in different style.  How exotic it would be to celebrate Diwali abroad! I have always seen these videos, photos of my friends enjoying and having a gala time in their dazzling attire, making their own sweets, dancing to DJ’s and enjoying the real festive flavor  not the typical conventional, monotonous way.

And one day we flew, come Diwali and I was so excited about my dreams, cultural activities were being organised, a lot of planning going on for events, would have my on-stage performance (after years).Days before I was all into the festive mode, rehearsing, being all squeamish about my costume, standing in front of mirror and boasting about  my abilities, calling up parents in India and bragging about the way "we were celebrating Diwali", in fact those hectic schedules often led to long gaps to even talk to them. It was just waiting for the big day.
Diwali in a different flavor


As I said life is so unpredictable and so is human nature. It was the grand day, Diwali had come, since morning I was all to myself, my costumes lay all dazzling ironed on the bed, the matching jewelry sparkling against my gorgeous sari, beautifully carved bangles giggling, my rehearsed song lines all written and thoroughly practiced  no I was not having any jitters in my tummy for my stage show, nor was I taking fancy of my beautiful glowing skin which had been polished for hours with special packs for the special day, neither the phone calls of my friends did any wonders. 

The real essence



I sat just beside my little window; the lane beside my house was all cold, freezing, grey, no lights, no sounds, just unwanted, undesired peace. My mind had left me without a visa to the small imperfect lanes of my “home” my old parents, my small home, those dazzled streets, those hand carved 'Mitti ka Diyas'sold by that old man sitting hours just to sell one 'Diya', home made sweets and snacks, the chants and simple rituals followed by parents in their own way...not much grandeur, not much dazzle, but simply wrapped with love, warmth and lots of good wishes for everyone.


Real Diwali is being with loved ones.

Tears were all I could feel, my heart sinking, my mind was all full of memories making me say “I wish I could be with you all, I wish I could just sit by you all whole day, pray  just the way we used to, sing my tuneless bhajans, burn those whacky crazy unsophisticated crackers, light  those little "Diyas" and protect it from the wind by putting my hands all over  and then  eat those sweets in spite of saying  “no” all forced  into the mouth one after another. I did not have words, just tears running frantically, wanted to leave everything and rush back “home”.
Our 'Home'

I did not have my heart with me that day, my mind was far away from that land, with my family, with my elderly parents who waited for me, who were all by themselves in that dazzling night, lighting a small 'Diya' with their feeble hands  just for us. It wasn't a Diwali, it was just another day for me:(

lights of love

Image-My album,Google,Westberkshire India society (U.K.)

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