My First Diwali at VKRV

(written on the night of Laxmi Puja, published later)

The day or rather the night of Deepawali was indeed an awesome one for me. Although I was not amongst the lucky ones who could go join their family for the auspicious celebration and Puja of Goddess Laxmi, the Puja and Aarati set up in my room gave the experience of home away from home. What went behind the set-up is of least concern to me and to you as my reader, but what it brought forth is indeed a very special and memorable one for me. (For Videos, scroll down)

The gathering. The “singing of the aarti” in syn (or rather at a times off the syn!! J). The fun while clicking snaps. The moments captured in the video. “The bowing down” and then the “immediate pat on the back”. And then the distribution of sweets, or rightly put “Prasad”. Every instance was a moment. A moment filled with fun, joy.

Kashyap was very happy and he truly said (and said over the phone to his parents back in Nepal) that he too felt at home in front of our arrangements for the Laxmi Puja ceremony. Everyone loved the celebration- Eshaan, Anup, Sujoy, Shaunak, Neeraj, Vedant, Amit, Pratik, Himanshu (I don’t know if I missed someone and finally of course Vipul too). Nilesh was christened the “Pundit” for today’s gathering. I was happy about what we all put up together. We all deserve a pat at the back for our collective effort.

I am writing at this moment when the main diya is still lit up. Wanted to go to sleep but I thought after a very long time, I have got a very great experience to share with you all. (No blog posts since … I don’t know how many days.. need to count them..!!) So I thought “Strike the iron when its hot” applies here as well (I don’t know if there is any other appropriate version fit for what I mean to say, but I am sure you have understood it very properly). I didn’t want these afresh moments to left alone. This piece is a good occasion for me to recollect them and once again feel good about it.

And then, I finally enjoyed few fireworks moments near Phulwari Block, Outram Lines when I went to meet my Mamiji and family there. New Delhi is definitely the place to be in Diwali if you want to look at the sky and watch the “colors of life”. With different skyshots and God knows what kinds of crackers, one will definitely have a good time watching the sky alone. And if you have access to terrace, it is a good idea to have a terrace bon-fire and watch the colorful Delhi-sky. Believe me, here the real taste is not in actually burning the fireworks yourself, but a whole lot in simply viewing them (if not hearing the loud sounds).

Of course, I miss my hometown, my family. The celebration and ceremony at home, at office. Meeting relatives and also delivering sweets to relatives’ homes!! And then the gala dinner at night with delicious items and sweets cooked by Mom. (No fireworks and crackers there, as its banned). However, what I am now really going to miss is “Bhai-Duj” (Bhai-tika) in the next 2 days. Miss you a lot- my younger sis and my elder sis.