Diwali: As Seen Through 3 Generations- Same Or Different?!

how have the Diwali celebrations over the years changed? We find out what Diwali actually means to this family and how their customs and practices have changed over the 3 generations.
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Abundant family love and gastronomic delights are the two things that define Diwali in India! With each festival coming in quick succession in a year, there is hardly enough time for preparations. The king of Indian festivals is unarguably- Diwali! 

But, how have the Diwali celebrations over the years changed? How have we adapted ourselves to the changing times, yet maintained a strong connection to our roots and culture?

We find out what Diwali actually means to this family and how their customs and practices have changed over the 3 generations.

Chitra Sivakumar- A Proud Grandmother Of 2 

Deepavali is special to me because it is not a one-day festival but the festive mood breezes in our homes almost a week before. The mesmerising aroma from mom‘s kitchen cannot be expressed in words. My mom was an expert in making wheat halwa, Deepavali leghiyam and om-podi. The mouthwatering bhajjis and onion sambhar on the previous day of Deepavali was a must and this dictum is followed to date in our households! A lovely silk pattu-pavadai for me and pant shirts for my brothers were the norm. Men’s wear has nothing exciting even today but girls’ dresses have so many varieties that make shopping exciting- especially for a grandmother of 2 adorable granddaughters like me. 

My brothers will have the crackers list ready after a brainstorming session with their friends. Harmless sparklers, ground wheels and flower pots were my favourites, and I have never mustered the courage to burst crackers/ those loud bombs to date! On the day of Deepavali, the senior most in the family will apply oil for us and after bath, the new festive wear and the pooja, we would start the ‘visits session’. No TV in those days, compelling us to watch the mega-hit movie of the year.

So, we had quality time visiting friends and relatives and seeking blessings from elders (and their gifts were mostly Rs 5 or Rs 10 which was a big amount those days!) and celebrating the spirit of Deepavali. The whole day was spent playing running around bursting crackers and non-stop snacking! And while hitting the bed I would never forget to ask mom about Deepavali next year and calculate the number of days in my dream! Good ol’ days!!

No TV in those days, compelling us to watch the mega-hit movie of the year. So, we had quality time visiting friends and relatives and seeking the blessing from elders (and their gifts mostly Rs 5 or Rs 10 which was a big amount those days!) and celebrating the spirit of Deepavali. 

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Janani Koushik- Mom Of A 5-Year-Old Girl

I knew many people who would finish their shopping weeks ago, but we kind of preferred the last-minute purchases. Mom & I would make a quick dash to the buzzing streets of Luz and T.Nagar to make our Diwali purchases (talk about the good ol’ days of shopping in stores and not online). The 3-day run-up to Diwali would mean scouring over the firecrackers list with my elder brother and starting the celebrations every evening after school- ably joined by our cousins and the kids in our apartment.

Amma would make delicious ghee-dripping sweets and savouries in large quantities that would make their way to the school snack box for at least for a week post-Diwali! Mandatory family greetings and blessings would be sought, and the evening mostly meant shuttling another fire-crackers session and catching up on the latest movie release on TV! These premier screenings assumed epic proportions in those no-Netflix times! TV had slowly but steadily made its way into our lives, even on festive days, but we knew just how to strike the right balance, back then!

Mandatory family greetings and blessings would be sought, and the evening mostly meant shuttling another fire-crackers session and catching up on the latest movie release on TV!

Nandini Koushik- Daughter

My daughter’s Diwali is different from mine in many ways and similar in some. The practises and customs are mostly the same on D-day but since we stay in a different city for work, Diwali hols mean travelling back to my hometown just a day before. I pack a few sweets and savouries that I managed to try in the busy work week and mom/mother-in-law take over the rest at home. She gets to taste the same Diwali treats that I enjoyed as a child- of course with more new variations and healthy twists! Diwali shopping is mostly online, ‘coz honestly, who has the time?! With pollution and Sc rulings coming to play- crackers are clearly off-limits for this generation.

D-day is celebrated at Nani & Dadi ka Ghar with my child enjoying her time with the grandparents and cousins to the max. The doting grandparents bend the rules for the grandchildren! Selfies are clicked, filters applied to some and Insta-loaded almost immediately. From my daughter’s point of view, Diwali is more of an opportunity to meet family and enjoy the pampering of grandparents! This gen gets to learn more about Diwali through apps and books, than from us!

Diwali shopping is mostly online, ‘coz honestly, who has the time?! With pollution and Sc rulings coming to play- crackers are clearly off limits for this generation.

We are on our way to our hometown as you read this article and can’t wait for the Diwali celebrations to begin. How similar or different is your Diwali? We would love to hear! Tell us in the comments below!

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