Jaane Kahan Gaye Woh Din

Deepavali -The festival of lights, colourful rangoli’s, yummy sweets, mouth-watering snacks and beautiful clothes – Yes, Deepavali is the only festival which I enjoy the most and love more amongst all festivals since childhood. First reason being, Deepavali was the only festival where I used to get new clothes apart from my Birthday. The other reason was I would get to learn and eat lots of new snack and sweet items every year.

I still remember, whenever my parents brought new Bhagyalakshmi calendar of upcoming year, my only question to my mom was - When is Deepavali falling this year? What is the date and month? As a child, I was always worried that if Deepavali and my birthday fall on same day or same week, then I should compromise to one dress instead of two that year. I am very grateful to my parents that they never let this happened and always kept these two special days of the year very special to me and my siblings. 

As my parents were both working and I was asked to stay back at my Doddamma’s (Mom’s elder Sister) place after school hours, I used to spend most of my time with my cousin sister Usha akka and my doddama, until my mom reaches home. And during Deepavali - The festive month the routine was totally different, all my cousins, aunts, granny, neighbour aunties gathered together at one place and spent time discussing, planning on preparing yummy parhaal (Deepavali Snacks).

I can still visualize those scenes and those beautiful days right infront of my eyes even today, where elder’s in my family as well as my neighborhood aunties would start discussing atleast 15-20 days prior on what items to prepare for Deepavali and from what date they want to start? It was a tradition as well as the need, that all ladies would gather at one relatives place for one snack/sweet item, spent time together helping each other and preparing one item per day. Elders would complete major part of the preparation, and then they would now give chance for kids to try and learn these. I used to get very enthusiastic whenever the paraal (Sweets and snacks) item preparation would start, the only reason was I would also get chance to show my talent by giving proper round shapes to laddus, delicately cut shankapaale into a diamond shape and try giving halfmoon shape to Karjikai at the end.This culture brought everyone together and it was very helpful to prepare more in less time. All items were prepared in bulk so that it can be distributed to all relatives, guests and neighbours on festival day. And 50% was stored in big containers for all family members which inturn helped us to keep ourselves warm during the chilling winter season by consuming these healthy sweets and snacks . . 

These memories are still very fresh and imprinted in my head even today and whenever we start preparing parhaal every year during Deepavali, I visualize and revisit those days, feel happy and proud, that even though I was too young to understand what exactly elders were doing or planning to do, I was always encouraged to be part of all activities and also given chance to prepare some, that's how I have learnt by doing since beginning. I wish to relive those days again, simple lifestyle, people spent time together, festivals and summer vacations were most awaited by all. Kids enjoyed playing outdoor games and elders had a tough time to manage all as it was not less than running the kinder garden school but still everyone enjoyed and had fun.

Jaane kahan gaye woh din....