Dear readers, as you enjoy a cup of tea in the company of your favourite newspaper, let's play a rapid-fire round today. I will write a word and you have to choose a response that first comes to your mind. The chosen option will define your personality trait and your perspective towards life and some special occasions therein.
So, here's the word for the day: Diwali. Quick, what's your immediate reaction? Your options are: (a) Celebration (b) Radiance (c) Exuberance (d) Apprehension. All those who chose the first three options are, in my verdict perfectly normal, happy-go-lucky human beings who bravely live up to the ritualistic and social expectations of various festivals and enjoy doing so. Congratulations!
However, for those who chose the uncanny fourth option, welcome to my world. Yes, yours truly is one of those rare species who instead of revelling actually suffers from anxiety pangs in anticipation of any festival. And the festival of lights tops my panic list. Please don't tag me as a sadist who abhors fun and festivity. On the contrary, I am a victim of my own quest for a picture-perfect, Bollywood-inspired Diwali. I spend many sleepless nights and sleepy days planning and plotting finer details of this mission impossible.
After all, you don't simply wake up on Diwali day and dress up to light diyas and burst crackers in the evening. It's a turnkey project in which every component is meticulously designed days ahead of the final delivery. The cool breeze in the air marks the onset of Diwali and the annual household cleanliness ritual (up)sets the mood. The way we are caught in the broom frenzy and reach out to all the dark and dingy closets of our homes, makes me wonder that if not for Diwali, we would all be lost in the maze of dust. Thus begins our endeavour to woo the lady with the magic wand (the humble domestic help) as she is our lone saviour in these difficult times. Remember, persistence pays and you might end up winning her favour.
{{/usCountry}}After all, you don't simply wake up on Diwali day and dress up to light diyas and burst crackers in the evening. It's a turnkey project in which every component is meticulously designed days ahead of the final delivery. The cool breeze in the air marks the onset of Diwali and the annual household cleanliness ritual (up)sets the mood. The way we are caught in the broom frenzy and reach out to all the dark and dingy closets of our homes, makes me wonder that if not for Diwali, we would all be lost in the maze of dust. Thus begins our endeavour to woo the lady with the magic wand (the humble domestic help) as she is our lone saviour in these difficult times. Remember, persistence pays and you might end up winning her favour.
{{/usCountry}}The next step is to give your sweet home much-awaited renovation. What better occasion than Diwali to show off the brand new interior/exterior décor of your abode? How to accomplish this tedious task is for you to fathom. I can write a book on my whims and fancies on house makeover.
Now I am proceeding to the most cumbersome and worrisome of the lot, shopping for gifts. Although we cherish doing so for our loved ones, it ends up being a treasure hunt with us rummaging through decked-up malls, expecting to get lucky. In the end, who gets what is their destiny, not your folly. My list of pre-Diwali frets can go on but this write-up can't.
Dear readers, I would appreciate your expert submissions on overcoming my pre-Diwali blues. Happy Diwali!