Diwali is the festival of lights. It’s a festival when families come together. Food is the glue that binds them together.

As Indians became anglicised, our traditions became Westernised and many ‘educated’ people abandond tradition and ritual in the name of modernisation. As people’s jobs took them away from their homes, celebrations with family morphed into celebrations with friends and sometimes even strangers with people keeping ‘open homes’ for neighbours to pop in and partake of the Diwali spread.

Gradually, however, the religious aspect of Diwali gave way to pomp and show. The lights became electric, the decorations theatrical, the parties curated, the greetings WhatsApped and generally the whole festival has changed beyond recognition. And gifting became more of an annual TIP or gratuity that was distributed to all those who serve us.

Today, as I gave my grandaughter a ritual oil bath, I told her the story of Narakchaturdashi. This bath is supposed to be had at the crack of dawn, well before the cock crows.

But today, being a holiday , I let her lie in. She surfaced from the Land of Nod around 8 in the morning by which time the sun was high in the sky. I drew the curtains together to darken the room, turned on the airconditioning, lit an oil lamp and created an atmosphere of the Dark Moonless night. Luckily she humoured me and allowed me to massage her and rub her down with turmeric and scented herbs and finally wash it all off. I’m sure next year she’ll resist.

Our Diwali breakfast which is eaten en famille was eaten as it normally is – in dribs and drabs as and when people showed up at the table. And as for the tradition of eating Faral and freshly made a poha/upma/sabudana wada – it just doesn’t fit in everyone’s diet.

Last evening the parking area was cleared so that families could burst fire crackers. But not a SINGLE sound was heard. Not a single sparkler lit. This morning the cars are back because the staff realised that fireworks on Diwali are a thing of the past.

But I tell myself that each one of us is free to celebrate the festival in their own way- it is after all a time for joy and happiness.

So happy Diwali everyone, even if it is a vacuous greeting said without much sincerity.

Ciao,