Yet another beautiful diwali..

Diwali is the most romantic time of the year for me. To be a Mumbaiite and not fall in love with Diwali; cant be ! I celebrate it with the same zest I used to when I was a little girl. Cleaning up my home, making sweets, lighting diyas, putting rangoli , dressing up. It remains a pure joy in my heart, this beautiful festival of Lights.

As a little girl I enjoyed showing off my cracker bursting abilities. Greatly skilled in exploding bombs, I would light the tiny red ones in my hands and throw them far. It is sheer luck that none of them landed on someone's head. Sparklers and Paoos ( rain fountain) thats the literal translation, please dont ask me the actual name :D- were my favourites. My risk taking in life began and end at lighting the paoos and running to safety. For weeks our home would be stocked with home made savouries sent by our maharashtrian neighbours.

Even today as I dress up for the occassion, I go back to being a kid, my eyes lighting up like the diyas around me and my heart singing chorus to...deepavali manaye suhani, mere sai ke haathon mein jaadu ka paani.......

Take me out of diwali...can never take diwali out of me..

Oh yes, the crackers, I took them out of me long time back. Before I could cause mass destruction I went and burnt my little finger bursting those tiny, not so nice, red bombs. That put an end to my crackering days.

Wishing the entire universe A very happy, prosperous and bright diwali !