Deepavali celebrations - traditional - really miss it

Yesterday was Deepavali for tamilians and it was an incredible wonderful day - i think i will break up the blog into two or more.. My sister rang up not so early morning 7 am to wish me Happy Deepavali and reminded me of the days when we used to celebrate but i am... anyhow here goes..
we used to live in a small place - about 500 sqft carpet in vileparle (Mumbai) - small because we used to live in a large place in my father's quarters and moreover, we used to be a large family living together including our cousins- so it used to be wonderful and the tradition continued till my father and then my mother passed away.
We used to wake up early morning at about 4 pm - and that day all of us used to get up feeling very excited - by then all the new clothes would be kept ready, oil heated and my mother will ask all of us to sit down on a "pai" (made of sticks from plants i think- very useful in hot climate to sit on the floor) and then she will sing arathi; then apply small portion of oil on top of all our heads, apply kumkum on our forehead; we then apply oil completely on our head and body and then one by one bathe; wear new clothes and ready to play with fireworks - those days it used to be snall crackers and all the nice fireworks that make no noice but very very colorful.. the house used to be brightly lit along with small earthen diyas.. we then had my favourite medicinal stuff to reduce chances of stomach upset; we then did namaskar to our parents, all other elders and then rushed to play with fireworks - we had a gala time playing, watching others play and then by about 6 / 6.30 am , return to the house and to attack nice foodstuff that mother made - the eatables consisted of sweets, salty stuff as well as the traditional breakfast - idli, molagapidi and sambar. we ate them with relish and then it was time for next exciting part (i never like to move out from my place -even now though it is less) but once i leave, i enjoy being with other people - so then we used to meet relatives and friends and wish them "happy deepavali" and "gagna snanam aachaa?" (meaning did you have oil bath)- eating continued with the relatives and friends - afternoon was time for nap - evening/ night - house used to be well lit along with Diyas ... miss all these excitement with our families... now all of us live separately !!

Comments

deepa said…
Very touching article and very well written. U remind me of writings of R K Laxman. (Incidentally he is a good writer apart from being a good cartoonist)
11:33 am
Vijaya said…
Thanks Babu. Very nice. How do I add the second part after some of got married/ set up our own house, etc.etc. How we used to assemble at our mother's place, come there by early morning after bath at our individual homes, each carrying our goodies, right in time for the sumptous breakfast followed by gossips and chats until it was time for lunch, and then sleepily return home. This tradition we followed as long as all of us were in the same city and the mother's place was always the hub
10:03 am
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