The Scented Bath

Diwali morning and nostalgia as one realises we have changed with times. Walking down the nostalgic path, Diwali for me as a little girl called for almost a fortnight ahead of excitement. Days were counted with mother preparing all the required savouries that ranged from chakulis to shankarpalis to karanjis to besan laddoo to karakhadi and chiwda. Walk to the market rather than mall shopping today, meant a visual of colourful lanterns, clothes that adorned the mannequins, boxes of sweets on display, crackers that were tempting, leaves and herbal powders that were sold in the labyrinth of stalls on the road to the shops that were well lit and welcoming. Precious amongst all the shopping was the Moti soap which would adorn the ritual scented bath. A couple of days ahead, mother would remind you of the stories of Diwali that always left me perplexed about Ram’s victory and Lakshmi pooja and the story of Naraka and King Bali. The morning of the festival called for an early morning rise and the queue formed internally for the traditional utna and the aromatic bath. Father would take the initiative of ensuring that the water was heated right, that each of us was given the turn and the decision on which cracker would be burst when the person took bath. After bath was the prayer for wealth and prosperity and good health, while mother kept breakfast ready. Breakfast had an array of delicacies with Mangalore poha (oozing with coconut, jaggery, ghee and sesame seeds) being important apart from the savouries that were ready and stored in containers. Thereafter, began socialising and networking as we wore new clothes and carried the boxes of sweet to the neighbours and well wishers, relatives and business friends. Diwali was the time to patch with old grouses, reconnect with the lost, build new acquaintances and exchange pleasantries. Evenings was the rush to the common area in the compound where children showcased the maximum number of fireworks, which were apportioned across three days. Thereafter was the Diya lighting and ensuring that your house was the most well lit, with the resplendent lantern taking centre stage. The following week was spent in collecting and counting the greeting cards that one received and the messages that one looked forward to.

With years we have transitioned to a different Diwali celebration today and with a lot of restrictions and concerns for climate change. Change is important and welcome with times. What can stay on is the personal connect, the bonding and friendship and traditions and culture that needs to be sustained and passed on to the generations that come.