A MUCH AWAITED FESTIVAL, DIWALI- REMEMBRANCES

 

The much-awaited joyous festival of lights is again here. In retrospection, Though Diwali is honored due to the same traditional values yet it had one more meaning for us. It was the day when the whole family used to congregate in one place. It was delightful and exciting to meet our cousins, grandmother, uncle, and aunt after a long long lag. Schools vacations were announced for festival months i.e. There weren't any schools from Dusshera to a few days after Diwali.

It was the time when the festival of Diwali was not only confined to the families but to the community as well. We knew all the members, residing not only in our lane but also in adjacent lanes, and could smell the pleasant aroma of specially cooked recipes from each home gratifying our olfactory lobes. It is rightly said that "The aroma reaches the nose before the food reaches the mouth and we can taste it." We had to cherish that aroma in our brains before we actually get to taste it on Diwali. Here I would like to mention that we (all children) were diligent participants in the preparation of all the delicacies at our home. This is a trait that is missing in the present generation who refrains from assisting for preparation but are always ahead in devouring the same.

There was a happy exchange of delicacies and pleasantries and everyone enjoyed doing so. The cover on the plate in which the sweets and other savories were exchanged were used to gauge the quality of delicacies inside the plate. More attractive and artistic covers define the creative genius and the positive intention of the giver whereas others were just accepted not to embarrasses them but with less heart.

The smell of paints, varnishes, and whitewash pervaded throughout the entire colony. Everyone used to put in all their efforts to embellish their homes (with the hope that goddess Lakshmi will come to their abodes on the night of Diwali). The houses were painted on each Diwali with either "chuna" or "yellow soil" or distemper. Rejmal paper was used to scrape off the old coating and it was supplanted by a new coat. Whitewashing the houses was done annually which is missing these days. Houses really appeared more clean and brand new and heralded the advent of the auspicious festival of Diwali.

Buying new clothes

We never got to have branded dresses in those days. Moreover, we always wore tailor-stitched dresses rather than buying readymade ones. If we have to go for readymade ones, sales were the first option. local Shops on Rajbada or M.G.Road were always given the preference. We were happy and contented in those clothes and felt ourselves in the 7th sky after donning them on the day of Diwali. Refurbishing and altering the clothes of the elders for younger ones was highly prevalent in most families.

Buying fireworks

I was quite scared of crackers when I was a kid. I am repulsive to Crackers even now. Crackers were usually meant for my elder brother who had all dominance over me. He used to enjoy my share of crackers too. I was only an observer and sometimes get to enjoy the sparkles of 'Phulijhri' of 'rassi'

Similarly, Niki was very scared of crackers, and she had to be literally dragged by her parents to come 

for pooja at the shop as she had to cross the bustling lane of Sarafa laden with bangs and explosions of crackers.

Once our grandmother told us about the harmful effects of burning crackers. Inspired by her reasons for the harm associated with fireworks, I completely gave off them. So, with time the idea and desire of having crackers never walked in mind and saved us from directly exposing us to the detrimental effects of the crackers.

Deepawali Puja: 

Deepawali is believed to be the festival of the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi. Puja of Goddess Laxmi, Saraswati, and Lord Ganesh. is done to invoke them and bless our homes with their arrival. According to a hearsay, Sita (consort of Lord Rama) was an incarnation of Lakshmi and after an exile of 14 years, she returned to Ayodhya on Diwali; to welcome her and show happiness, the whole city was adorned with diyas. The lights of Diyas enlightened the whole city on the night of 'Amavasya'. Ganeshji is the lord of Riddhi and Siddhi and Laxmi Ji is the goddess of prosperity and they are worshipped together to get good luck throughout the year.

Apart from Goddess Lakshmi,, Saraswati and Lord Ganesh, Lord Mahavira, and Gautam Swami are also worshipped on the night of Diwali. Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana on Diwali and Gautam Swami, who was his disciple acquired 'Keval Gyan' with the nirvana of Mahavira. All the rituals pertaining to Puja were followed religiously. Sometimes even a pundit performed all the rituals for us. Puja was a grand event at that time and mostly took place in our Shastri Colony home. But once we moved to Agrawal Nagar, pooja took place at our shop at Morsali Gali. It was a joyful and scintillating event and many people used to grace the occasion. Chachaji, Chachiji, Niki, Bapna uncle and family, several 'karigars', and our complete family used to be present there. I hardly remember if Bully ever came for Puja. Puja was followed by giving gifts to karigars and by elders to younger. We used to anxiously wait for our turn and felt so elated on receiving the blessings and cash. That was one of the happiest moments for us. After Puja, we used to go to a Jain temple adjacent to our shop and exchange wishes with a hoard of people. There was always a photo session at the time of pooja which continued for many years. The next day's early morning (somewhere around 5), the sacred 'Gautam Rasa' was narrated in temples, and 'Laddus ( called nirvana ke laddu)" was offered to the idol of Mahavir Swami in remembrance of their achievements. We were forced to leave beds in the chilling morning of winters and were compelled to visit the temples. Though with a lot of reluctance we used to abide by the order of parents and literally trawled to the temples.

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Kuldevi Pujan: It is on 'ekam' i.e 'pratipada' that we perform kuldevi poojan and beseech her blessings from her for the wellness and prosperity of the family. This puja was (and is) participated only by the members of the Nahta clan. We all remain hungry till the offerings are done to the deity. Dadagurudev puja is also performed simultaneously. A simple 'feast' comprising of boiled rice, boiled green lentil, 'Raita with fried skinned urad dal dumplings and some sweet delicacies which are/were specially prepared by my mummy for Puja. After Puja, everybody seeks the blessings of their elders. That's the only day when I remember everyone always lunched together. 

The same rituals are followed today too, what's new or missing then? First, the members and their number kept fluctuating every year. Chachaji and dadisaheb were two of the major members of all the rituals. Now they are no more and we cannot do anything except missing them. Anju di, Bully and Niki are betrothed and celebrate Diwali in their homes as per their family traditions. They are occasionally present but that too accidentally.

After the marriage of Atul Bhaisaab, Rita Bhabhi, Aashi, and Shana were permanently added to the family, so inadvertently they were new members in Diwali Pujas.

Second, neither that yearly pungent smell of paints exists nor that craze of decorating houses remained.

For me after paralysis, lots of things have changed. It has been many years since I've gone to the shop for Puja. A Diwali of aloofness only remained past 13 years. But I'm sure soon the times will change.

Diwali has always been a festival for me to return home. Wherever I stayed, I would always return to my home on this auspicious day. None of the circumstances held me back or hindered my path to not be present with my parents on this occasion.

Deflationary has inadvertently brought in many changes. Cutting cost on home decorations, sweets, gifts, clothes, though undesirable yet had to be accepted. Deflationary had been the raison d' etre for the unwitting increase of the gap between the people. 

Diwali celebrations now seem to be more like a formality than a festival of revelries. Previously people used to wait for this festival to come but now they heave a sigh of relaxation after this festival is gone.
Diwali is still a much solicited, & alluring festival but it has lost its old charm and splendidness; unwittingly, at least for the lower-middle-class and lower-class families. Still, Diwali would always remain a special time when family and friends get together for fun, cheer and escalate the feeling of belongingness I end here with this wish on Diwali:🎇🎆🎆

With gleam of Diyas

And the echo of the chants

Let's show some love and care

May happiness and contentment fill your life

And wish everyone out there

Happy Diwali

Here are memories of the moments celebrated together which are attached to my heart forever

Kuldevi Puja-2000
Chachaji, Atul B., Jijaji, Papaji

Kuldevi puja at Agrawal Nagar in 1992

Diwali at shop 1992

 

Diwali 1991
Me, Mahendra B, Bafna uncle, karigars, Ladu Ben, Lali, Anju di

kuldevi puja 2000

1993-At shop
Atul B, Niki, Chachiji, Mummy, Anju di
And some karigars

1993- At the shop
Bafna uncle, Mahndra B, Kamla aunt, Papaji,
Chachiji, Chachaji, Mummy,Me, Anjudi, Niki

1994- At the shop
Bafna uncle, Me, Niki, Atul B

1994-Mummy. Atul Bhai., Bafna unc, Anju di

1994-Bafna uncle, Papaji, Chachaji

1995- At Shop
Papaji, Chachaji, Sonu, Anju di, Mummy, Niki

1995- Kuldevi Pujan, Agrawal Nagar

1995-kuldevi Pujan, Agrawal Nagar

2000-At shop
Me, Bafna uncle with granddaughter, Papaji with Aashi, Chachaji, Niki, Mummy, Chachiji, Bhabhi, Neeta Bhabhi 

2002-At shop
Niki, Aashi, Mummy, Chachiji, Bhabhi

2002- At the shop
Papaji, Bafna uncle & Chachaji

2003- Me & Papaji at shop

2004-At shop
Bhabhi, Mummy, Aashi, Me, Chachaji with Shana, Bhaisaab, Bafna uncle