Diwali and silence.
The silence on Diwali is deafening. I am used to the sound of crackers and busy streets during the festival season of Diwali in India and my home-town Jaipur. And here I am, sitting alone in my apartment on Diwali morning. Not much to do. My friends have invited me over for lunch and dinner, and I am looking forward to those but life still feels empty.
I talked to my parents, brother and relatives on the phone but there is still a big human component which is missing. The lights, the diyas, the sweets, setting up my dad's office for "diwali puja", meeting relatives and friends, busting crackers and on the smell of crackers -- the list is endless. Diwali brings back so many memories.
During Diwali, we had a small task force at home. :). My mom would take care of the sweets and all the puja material. My dad would set up the puja place, bring all his new books for the next year's record-keeping and bring out some really cool coins from the days of British rule which my grand-pa gave to my dad. Me and my brother would be in-charge of all that which glitters or makes noise (lights, candles, diyas and crackers).
The best diwali moment I remember is from 2000 when I was home from the first year of my college. It was also the last time when I was home for Diwali. All four of us were together. We had a very nice "puja" place. I and my brother had spent two days setting up the lights around the house. Mom made like zillion sweets. After the puja, I was on the roof with mom putting candles and diyas every 5 feet of so. Putting candles was my favorite part of diwali. I felt empowered to cut all the darkness in the world.
Two of my best friends from school came home. I still can't forget the joy to be with everyone who mattered the most to me in life at that point. We had so much fun. We spent an hour busting crackers, eating sweets and just catching up. I went to my friends' houses after that and had the same experience all over again. I did not realize the importance of those moments then. My only wish today is to somehow re-live those precious moments once again in life. And this time I promise to be more grateful. :)
I talked to my parents, brother and relatives on the phone but there is still a big human component which is missing. The lights, the diyas, the sweets, setting up my dad's office for "diwali puja", meeting relatives and friends, busting crackers and on the smell of crackers -- the list is endless. Diwali brings back so many memories.
During Diwali, we had a small task force at home. :). My mom would take care of the sweets and all the puja material. My dad would set up the puja place, bring all his new books for the next year's record-keeping and bring out some really cool coins from the days of British rule which my grand-pa gave to my dad. Me and my brother would be in-charge of all that which glitters or makes noise (lights, candles, diyas and crackers).
The best diwali moment I remember is from 2000 when I was home from the first year of my college. It was also the last time when I was home for Diwali. All four of us were together. We had a very nice "puja" place. I and my brother had spent two days setting up the lights around the house. Mom made like zillion sweets. After the puja, I was on the roof with mom putting candles and diyas every 5 feet of so. Putting candles was my favorite part of diwali. I felt empowered to cut all the darkness in the world.
Two of my best friends from school came home. I still can't forget the joy to be with everyone who mattered the most to me in life at that point. We had so much fun. We spent an hour busting crackers, eating sweets and just catching up. I went to my friends' houses after that and had the same experience all over again. I did not realize the importance of those moments then. My only wish today is to somehow re-live those precious moments once again in life. And this time I promise to be more grateful. :)
posted by Braveheart at 11:50 AM
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