Last week we three Male Dodeja’s took active part in
cooking. Kashyap made dinner, which was simple Biryani with Dahi. I made sweet
dish of egg Pudding. Goggle, Rinky, Pinky and Pinky’s mother were in my
advising committee. Akshay made something from ‘Malgapuram’ masala, which he had
collected in Hyderabad. All three items were at the edge of failure, a disappointing
act from our side.
Pre - Diwali week is upon us. Our living room at PP is white
and just intense cleaning of two hours changed the room into pure white, bright
and sparkling hall. All credit to Muskan and Sarika.
The ususal routine of
Diwali is on. Cleaning, getting lights ready, planning the 5 days holidays, birthday marathon plan [5
birthdays + Anniversary fall before 11 Nov], shopping in Peth area, arguing on
5 days menu, buying / not buying crackers, planning two puja’s.
We plan family
activity for Diwali holidays, [skit shooting, playing cards, diya making competition etc] selecting
options for entertainment [games, movies, photography, picnic], arranging
extended family dinner, all this process is standard for Diwali, sometimes more enjoyable than actual event! The difference
will be in execution and success of plans. This is what I call Diwali spirit.
My intuition is telling me that from next year, our Diwali
will be drastically different. Hope we will keep the Diwali spirit alive in
changed scenario, the way enjoy it thoroughly. If all above mentioned
activities will continue and some richness is added, it is ok, but no drastic
changes. Change should be there not for sack of change, but betterment. If all
those activities bring smile and joy to us, let’s continue with them.
How Diwali celebration process has changed.
Earliest I remember, was when our high point used to be
going to Noble Paper Mart [from 60 to 90’s], taking part in Pooja, admiring Lal
Baug Kandels and other areas lights while driving back home. Then we added
Diwali night dinner at copper chimney, Worli. The dinner out started then,
still continues, however nowadays, on Diwali night, we eat at home, but have
one night dinner in some good restaurant.
Crackers were major part of Diwali from 70’s to early 90’s.
I still remember, waking up early in morning due to heavy sound of crackers
[Russi Bomb, Tharathari, Laxmi Bomb] in Ghatkopar and trying to measure silence
between two blasts of crackers. I started the crackers bursting ritual at
office in big way. Lalu will be given good amount to buy in bulk crackers from
Mohamed Ali Road, and those will be burst by Mamtu – Maruti etc after the pooja,
over the snack plate. Then under the influence of Pollution Controllers [like
Moni – Chinky] somehow we started skipping firing ‘Dharu’ [as our mama’s would
call it]. I think in last 10 years we must have skipped 6/7 times. Muskan
remains the only child in family, who is very much interested in crackers, for
her, Diwali without crackers is lame Diwali.
There was time when, neighbors / relatives would visit each
other in best dress to wish happy new year, customers will just come to office
for wishing happy Diwali only. All this changed as Life got busy, time for
vacation got erased during the year. So taking advantage of extended holiday week
of Diwali, we started our only vacation time at sterlin resort spots. Now
Diwali has turned from Social event to personal chill-out event. It was time
when you put your hair down and relaxed. For socialization, the world has moved
ahead with Greeting Cards, Telephone, e-Mail, Cell Phone, and now whatapp. Business which was pursued from one generation
to other, had life of few years only. So the need to develop personal rapo is
not there, today only thing which count’s is how good a deal you make.
Dad used to send two different Diwali cards, one group was all his relatives, which will be inrange of 200/250 and his litterateur friends. He would
specially make card for his Sindhi Writers friends in Sindhi. Few times he even made personalised cards also. He will
painstakingly write address on each envelop in his clear handwriting. He would
enjoy this process. If any address was not available, he would go to great
extend to get it. The e-mail and mobile has killed the greeting cards charm.
Now we hardly get two / three cards and yes, we do not send any.
Things which has remained constant all these?
It is cleaning of house, removing all accumulated rubbish. I
do that with deleting my data files from Lap top and cell phone also! And this
happens so naturally, that suddenly I realize, yes Diwali is arriving.
Other constant, in spite of advancement of diabetes etc, is
good presence of ‘Mithai’.
And thankfully our ladies make this day special more so by
wearing Sari!
Rangoli and flowers Decoration.
Lights and Kandeels.
And yes, good wish’s.
HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL.
PS: Just in nick of time, before posting, I remember...
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| I promise to remember wedding anniversary date...7th Nov |
by P G Dodeja
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