Since I started understanding things, Diwali was always defined by the "festival of lights," "togetherness over special food and sweets," and overall fun. Every house in my vicinity was decorated with lanterns, flower garlands on the main door, huge colorful rangoli, delicious food items, new clothes, lots of gifts, a long vacation, and crackers. This was the Diwali I knew.
While growing up, I started noticing different forms of Diwali, especially after relocating to a different state. I was aware of the festival lasting more than a week, starting with Guru Dwadashi to Dev Diwali. But in that new state, Diwali was only for a day, and that was it. I noticed a slight shift: from larger-than-life celebrations to a single day full of joy, from variety in decorations to simple decor, and from new clothes every day to only one new outfit. Even getting up very early for a fragrant bath shifted to waking up at a regular time.
I further realized that there are many people for whom traditional celebrations at home are impossible: police, soldiers, nurses, doctors, pilots, drivers, and all those who are on duty. For them, the traditional celebration is replaced by get-togethers at work while performing their essential duties.
Moreover, I know a few people who celebrated the festival on a massive scale earlier in life. Now, as everyone is dispersed to various locations, busy with their own routines and focused careers, it is time to enjoy in a very different manner.
There are absolutely no complaints, no cribbing, and no comparisons, every kind of celebration is enjoyed thoroughly by them. Now, their Diwali is simple fun, with no rush for anything.
These connections are now able to understand why they did so many things in their early days: cooked on a large scale, shopped for all, decorated the entire house, and so on. The reason is simple: it was all done so that they can now recollect those moments, get a wide smile on their face, and be extremely happy with the satisfaction that those things have already happened. There is nothing left unfinished; no bucket list to complete.
Isn't it beautiful to witness this kind of evolution in celebration? From then to now; from cooking on a very large scale to no special cooking; from clay and oil-based lamps to easy battery-operated lights in the balcony. The essence remains the same—the light inside.
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