There's something in the air :)
The festival of lights is almost here and the excitement is almost palpable! Everyone's busy with the Autumn cleaning of homes and the smell of whitewash and varnish mingles with the mild chill in the air..
Hectic last mintue shopping is on with gifts being purchased for family and friends. Fire-crackers line the bazaar streets and Sweet-shops are taking advance orders for Tons of Mithai.. Woollens have arrived in the market and the Utility shops have extended their wares way into the corridors to cater to the increased demand.. even the wind seems to carry a promise of happiness and good times to come :)
This my favorite part of the Year! Diwali is here my friends and let me take this opportunity to share with all of you the good cheer and feeling of belonging it fills me with..
This isn't just a festival celebrating the arrival of a prince.. It is the time for soft Autumn Sun brightening the dark corners for the last time before winters take over; time for people to bid farewell to pleasant day-nights and prepare for the onslaught of harsh Himalayan winds; the time to strengthen the bonds of Family and Friendship celebrating the Home-coming of the Blue-Lord :)
This year, the home-coming is literal for me as I was lucky enough to be gifted the statue of Lord Rama by a Buddhist monk in Malaysia!!! I was spell-bound when the monk presented me with the gift and I thanked him from my heart for inadvertently, he had helped me bring the Lord to my own home at Diwali :)
Like every year I'm in Chandigarh again for Diwali and like every year, the feeling of joy has overtaken my entire being. It's the time to revive old memories - cleaning up my cupboards I come across so many past remembrances that it fills me with nostalgia.. Its the time to renovate and refurbish - even in the absence of us kids, Mom-Dad have handled the mammoth task of getting the house re-painted quite well and now I have to arrange the furniture in the entire house..
But I love the experience coz it helps me get in touch with my own home again.. plus I'm eager to display the curios and souvenirs collected from my visits to Africa and South-East Asia and to line them up on my shelves!! Will soon get busy buying and distributing gifts to loved ones and recieving people at home right upto Diwali day.. However, the child-like glee I derive from opening up presents and gifts more than makes up for the exhaustion and fatigue :o)
The idiot-box is belting out Diwali commercials by Paint/Sweet/Gift/Cards/Auto companies and it helps add flavor to the atmosphere. Bollywood is all set to release the latest extravaganza starring SRK and Kareena and the songs at least seem to reflect the festive mood right now :) I wish good-sense prevails with all and this year at least we are spared attacks by rabid fanatics!!
May our lives be colored with bright hues of the Rangoli; May the warm glow of Diyas and the fragrance of Pooja flowers mingle well with the delectable aroma of Sweets help sustain the exuberance throughout the coming winter :)
May Goddess Lakshmi favor us with fame and good fortune; May the gleam of the Kandils show us the path to contentment and spirituality; May the bursting fire-crackers light up all the dark nights of our lives ridding them of all melancholy moments.
Wishing all my loved ones a very Happy Deepawali :)
