Sumati Manchanda - Our Festivals: Diwali

RISING SUN
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New Dawn Press

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2005, New Dawn Press

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Aah! I get a strong aroma from the kitchen. What could Mummy be up to? said Shanti.

Well, I was in the kitchen, and I saw her preparing burfis, said Krishna. They smelt delicious.

The milkman brought five litres of milk in the morning. Now I know what it was all for, said Radha.

My mouth is already watering. Lets go taste some of the burfis, said Shanti, and they all trooped to the kitchen. Mother, please may we check if the burfis taste all right ?

Tut, tut, Shanti, wait till tomorrow. This year well be celebrating with many relatives and friends. So I dont want even one missing, said Mother, smiling.

Are you expecting many people tomorrow? asked Radha.

Well, your uncles, aunts and cousins will be coming to visit us. We have also invited some of our friends like the Singhs, the Chackos, and the Khan family. Tomorrow, I want all of you to wake up early in the morning, bathe, and change into the new clothes that well be buying today, said Father.

I would love to have a new sky-blue dress and a matching necklace, said Shanti.

I would love a pink skirt with matching ballerina shoes, said Radha.

Cant you girls find something more interesting to discuss? Clothes are so boring to talk about. Ma, could you please choose something for me? I would rather spend my time at the computer shop next to the big store youll be going to, said Krishna.

Im sure youll be up to some mischief in that shop. And perhaps force Father to replace your old computer which you have spoilt beyond repair! said Radha, teasingly.

Now! now! children, no squabbling. Lets plan out our day, said Mr Chaturvedi, Radhas father, as he settled into an easy chair.

Lets make a list of what each one of us wants and get going.

Papa, you are great! May I sit in front with Grandmother? said Shanti.

Okay. But only if you dont fidget too much, said Father.

Children, get dressed. We will be going out soon, said Mother.

Mother and Father sat down to plan out the day and make a list of things that had to be bought. Mother finished her work in the kitchen. Meanwhile, the children got dressed. Grandmother was dressed in a red-bordered white sari. Soon they were all seated in the car and were on their way to Sadar Bazaar.

The bazaar was bustling with activity. The pavements and the sides of the road were blocked with stalls selling fireworks, Chinese lamps, and other items made of colourful, shiny paper for decoration.

Mama! Look at this beautiful blue Chinese lamp. It ll look so pretty in our portico, said Radha.

Youre right, Radha. You have such good taste, said Father, as he turned to the vendor and told him to pack it up. Mama, Mama! Here are some fresh marigolds to decorate the temple at home, said Shanti.

Dont they look beautiful, Shanti? I would like you to be in charge of decorating the temple, said Mama, as she bought two kilograms of marigold.

Papa, heres the firecracker shop, said Krishna, his eyes lighting up. Oh! there are so many kinds of crackers! I feel like buying them all.

Can we buy some of these sprinklers? said Shanti.

Look at those colourful candlesred, green, yellow, and blue. I could decorate our boundary walls with these. Theyll look heavenly, said Radha.

Listen, dear, buy the children what they want, said Mrs Chaturvedi to her husband.

After all, Diwali comes but once a year. Wheres Grandma?

They all panicked for a moment. But finally they saw her giving an old, blind beggar some coins.

After all there is a sense of joy in sharing, said Grandma to the children who ran to her.

Grandmothers action had its effect on little Shanti. She wanted her mother to give some money to the woman with tattered clothes, who was looking longingly at some potatoes being fried.

We need to buy a few lamps, said Mother. Theyre being sold across the road. Come on, kids, be careful.

The family crossed the road. They all helped in choosing the diyas or oil lamps. Then they decided to go to Chandni Chowk. So they all climbed into the car. As the car zoomed off, there were lots of sounds of excited chatter and laughter.

Soon they reached Chandni Chowk and entered one of the shops.

There it is, Mama. Isnt this light blue dress very pretty? said Shanti.

I am sure you will look like an angel in it, said Mother.

Okay! get it packed, said Father, quite relieved that one item was off the list.

Mama, this pink dress is gorgeous! said Radha.

Come here, Radha, let me see if it fits you. Thats a perfect fit and the colour suits you beautifully, said Mother.

Great! This seems to be going pretty fast, said Father. Now, what about Grandmother and Mother?

The family then entered a sari shop.

Mother, youll look great in that light lemon sari with the green border, said Shantis mother.

If you think so, lets buy it. And what about you? At least indulge yourself today and choose a very pretty saree for yourself, too, said Grandmother.

This navy blue one with the red border will make you look gorgeous, said Father.

Hold it against yourself. Lets see how it looks.

Mama, you look so pretty! That really suits you, said Radha.

Well, I think Ill take it, since all of you like it so much. Children, do you know why we wear new clothes for Diwali? It s to express our happiness at Lord Ramas return from exile, to the kingdom of Ayodhya. Anyway, now that were through with the shopping, lets go back home. Theres lots of decoration to be done, said Mother.

Once home, they all sat down to have lunch. There was plenty of noise with the excited chatter of the children discussing their clothes and crackers, and the clatter of the steel utensils being put down noisily due to the excitement.