Celebrating Diwali after 8 years

Celebrating Diwali after 8 years

After having remained away from parents in the most important occasions for several years, I was home. It was one epic, memorable and important moment for me, my family and many others who keep family as their assets. My life had seen the beauty of the most important moment. I felt lucky to have been able to make it for the occasion. The light that I lit that night—the candles fixed on the barks of banana trunks—not only brightened the night, but also the soul and heart of ours. We were celebrating together after a long time. I could see smile on the lips of my parents. The smile that returned after a long time with the presence of their son was visible from far. The zeal and effort with which they welcomed the night of the occasion was in itself revealing the excitement that was accumulated within them. The night was cheerful. Each moment that consumed the occasion felt great. One thing I realized forever was the fact that family union is the greatest moment of life. I was overcome with sentiments.

Since the morning, wreaths of marigold and other species of flowers waited to be hung on the doors. Piece by piece, the flowers were joined by long threads and when the crepuscular evening presented, doors beamed with orange hue of marigold’s wreath. Neighborhood gleamed in the same way. Firecrackers were the sparkling and blasting in the infant darkness over the sky. I got overcome by all those gaps and the moments I missed and could feel the eyes get drenched. Perhaps that was the only moment I got to have that great feeling after growing up.

When I was kid, I never felt like I enjoyed. Perhaps I took things for granted as we usually do. I would feel like everything that came by was something that should do and therefore, never had as much excitement as I had after this long years. Absent had made the heart grow fonder. And the long gap created so many spaces to take everything that came by in a grand way.

That night I wanted to sing loud, speak to the world that I was happy, that I was there again. I wanted to let the neighborhood feel that we were enjoying as much as they. Like my parents were living in the village—only bride and the groom—the neighbors were no exception. In some homes, old couples, lit candles, welcomed Mata Laxmi—the goddess of wealth—to their house and, perhaps missed their children. I could read through the expression they exhibited that they were not as excited as they showed themselves to be. I could do nothing but empathize with them and their plight. I wondered then, did their sons and daughters missed the parents as much as they did! Did their sons and daughters wipe subtle tears as they did?

That night went by, next night, it was desushiri time.I went for singing desushiri. It was unplanned. It was never thought of. I had already made up my mind that I would spend my time with family. I wanted to hear other sing. I wanted to rejoice at others performance and once again delve myself into sentiments. I wanted to go back to my past when I lead a group of young youths into door to door singing. It was then, for money. It was for earning. At the recollection of those moments I felt like laughing. This time it was for entertainment. It was for living the moment and keep record of moment I enjoyed.

Indelible memories remain in my mind of that time. Unforgettable moments reside in me of those days. I have forever created a unique memory!