Diwali recap
Is it mist or smoke
The beginning of winter
Or the airy remnants of firecrackers?
Is Laxmi coming or going?
Does she prefer dry fruits (kishmish kaju then kishmish then kaju…)
Or a box full of sweets?
Will spending 4 hours over a slow flame
Turning the moong ki daal ka halwa this side and that
Entice her with its aroma?
As friends come over,
You show off your rangoli
Everyone stands and grins
The predictable glow of happiness, togetherness, neighborliness
Flashing smiles, flashing jewellery, dazzling saris,
Embroidered kurtas
It’s a hectic affair
Making stacks of barfi boxes
Handing clothes to the gardener, electrician, milkman and driver
Directing young agile guys in laying the string of lights nicely on the walls
Soaking the diyas and filling them with thick mustard oil
And finally, ending up a friend’s house
Laughing, doubling and cackling, slapping and hoo-hooo-hoooing
And tiring yourself to a beauty sleep in all the finery
As the last diya glows outside, dim but steady.
October 18th, 2009 - 07:17
A year passed. It was Diwali 09 yesterday -
Ranks one of the bestest Diwalis though I missed Jenny so much…
All looking good – me in red, nachi in red, ankit in white pathan-style suit, rohit n shantanu in full gear, lil kids like prachi totally confused and dressed up and holding phuljaris with wonder, mom-dads lookin good, fun people joined us and there was lotsa ha-ha-ha and conversations like “Why does the same flight take longer air-time going and shorter time coming back?”, meaningful and crisp puja, beautiful diyas, Pepsi went berserk nosing chakkris and jumping at fire-spouting anars, whisky, drives around foggy PGI campus in orange street-lights, people squealing and running away holding up their saris as they lit patakas, ppl doing pataka-tricks like lighting anar n chakri combos together, I am legend – nice Will Smith dose and zombies on Diwali, PGI walk to everyone’s house, met Monica Yachha after ages.. Everything put together spelt Bliss.