diwali 2024

Like most things growing up, Diwali was a simpler time. My father and other office going grown ups got a few days off from work, we kids got about three weeks off from school. The three of us were seconded by Mum in getting the house ship shape and all spruced up. Our home was cleaned and scrubbed to a proper sparkle; stuff long forgotten was unearthed from various nooks and crannies — surprising as our home was this tiny little space.

Cleaning done, clothes were sorted out — that was a bi annual affair, sometimes shoes — always black though. Come to think of it, Mum’s life did not change much during festivals — just that there was more cleaning to do and more food to cook. I think she got through this festival using the same technique that she did for the others — just think of it as God’s work. The kandeel (lantern) was always made by my mama (maternal uncle); he would turn up without fail with an assortment of sticks, paper, glue,scissors and conjure up a beauty each year. It was quite the thing; glowing in our balcony, with a few oil lamps for company. And so far, we are still in Kalina — my memories and I.

So I must fast forward to a time when we moved to Kandivali. That year,my brother made possibly the world’s largest private family kandeel. That Diwali, the second object visible from space would have been that kandeel. To this day my brother has no idea whatever got into him to create that lantern. But I digress; back to Kalina. We were among the few Hindu families in my locality.Mum would go completely ballistic in making sweets and savouries. Nothing fancy like now, karanji, thickaat shev, chaklis, chivda, shankarpalis and laddoos. Then we would get out some special plates — put an assortment of these sweets on them, cover everything with a lace kerchief. Off we went to each of our neighbours with this plate — to return with chocolates or some such sweets.

If our aunties did not have any chocolates handy, they would always give a small bowl of sugar. It is a courtesy thing, one should never send back a plate of sweets empty — thats what we learnt growing up. I guess back then everyone acknowledged the hard work it took. Then atChristmas, the entire neighbourhood would come over with sweets and we would be the chaps sending back little bowls of sugar. And my village would come alive with “stars” and lots of music. Jim Reeves topped the charts.

It was a tough neighbourhood replete with everything that could go wrong when so many people end up cooped so tightly together. However it was also a loving neighbourhood, folks would be interested in each other’s lives — always willing to help. A time when kandeels/diyas coexisted without fear with stars/candles. When no one felt any need to prove some weird sense of superiority over anyone else.

Just folks getting together to celebrate.

Just like they should. Forever.

Happy Diwali.