Today on the third day of my Diwali, I had a traditional scented bath. Well not quite traditional because I didn’t use the traditional oils and unguents ( utna we call it)

Nor did I get up before sunrise and decorate a wooden seat with a lighted lamp and rangoli. Nor did my mom give me the traditional scented oil bath and a rub down with fresh cream, turmeric powder and utna. Nor did she bless me with a dab of saffron water and the glow of the oil lamp. And I didn’t wear my new clothes because I didn’t make anything special.

Instead I got up at 6 am only because Ms Papaya wanted to say hello from New Jersey. And after my morning coffee and breakfast , I had my own version of an oil bath with a luxurious Dead Sea salt scrub. I rubbed myself down with a loofah and rubbed in some body cream after I towelled myself dry.

Since Wow Dinga and Little Po are spending the day with me there was no point in wearing my finery.

So here I am in my everyday clothes after my special Diwali scented bath happy with my newly tweaked Diwali tradition.

For a long time now, Diwali traditions have been in transition for most of us who have moved on . Smaller families and geographical distances have made the good old family Diwali rarer and rarer. But there is no harm in moving on is there?

Diwali is a time for reflecting, sharing and enjoying the abundance in one’s life.

Are you following the same traditions you did as a child or have you modified your Diwali celebrations? Do let me know in the comments below.

Happy Diwali