Thursday, November 04, 2010

Happy Deepavali

Here's wishing you all a sparkling Deepavali and a safe one as well!

Pattu is excited but still a bit scared of crackers. I think she'll stay indoors and we'll do with a few sparklers and flower pots as usual.
MIL has made some yummy snacks and the deepavali lehiyam is cooking as I type. I used to hate this as a child but I quite like it now, in fact more than the sweets and snacks.

I was talking to Apu yesterday and we were discussing how Deepavali was so different when we were young. The early morning oil bath, who's first to break the dawn with 'saram vedi' (crackers), new dress, bakshanam that was made at home (sweets and snacks), lehiyam and discuss how many burst atom bombs (one of the expensive crackers) and how some were fortunate enough to have two new dresses for deepavali. Budgets for crackers were fixed and we used to ration our stock to last till the night. I used to show off by lighting kuruvi vedi and oosi vedi with my hands (and delight that some boys didn't dare to do that).

All these were novelty at that time.Today, the new clothes and bakshanam are no longer exciting as they are available round the year. Wonder what Deepavali stands for the kids of today... Pattu is too small, so I can't really tell. What probably excites her is that we are all at home with her and there's something special happening...

So, what's your Deepavali story?

6 comments:

artnavy said...

Happy Diwali!

I think it still means excitement , togetherness and happiness - so all is well!

Asha said...

You are right regarding the clothes and food. It is there all the year around but what makes Deepavali different is the simple tamil rituals we have.

By getting up early and having an oil bath especially with near and dear ones, sharing lunch time and dinner time, talking and meeting with friends and family on this special day makes the difference and my children too look forward to this.

Asha said...

Happy diwali to you and pattu.

Unknown said...

happy diwali :)
Lil P gets most excited abt the crackers, the rangoli and sweets. :)

Shankari said...

Happy Deepavali to you and your family! I agree with Art, the festival still means joy, togetherness and lots of food :)

Being so far away from home, I try to re-create the spirit of all festivals with food. This time, I have heard that there is a temple nearby that sells and allows small cracker bursting. Looking forward to going there with Narad tomorrow night!

Uma said...

Art - quite right :)

Asha - Yeah, I was surprised that kids were stille excited about the early morning oil baths :) ...and Thanks...we had a really good time :)

Shruti - Lil P is not scared of crackers! That's great! She must have had great fun then...Pattu is a bit scared...

Shankari - Thanks!! How was your cracker night??