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Deepavali: Away from home

I just woke up and had massaged 'nallennai' (sesame oil) on my head for the traditional oil bath and wanted to finish my writing that I've started two days ago. Sometimes when you are a mum, its just too impossible to do what you like the best because the day and night is always full of all the' must-do' list. So here, I sit at this wee hour after a quick night sleep and penning my words.

It's all ready now for the celebration, I just need to bake some 'Idly' steamed rice and black gram cake for breakfast.'Sambar', chicken sambal and lamb curry are ready in the pot. We have a Malaysian family coming later in the morning for breakfast but now, the house is all silent; simply waiting for my sons who are sleeping to break the silence and cheer the house up for a beautiful day. This morning, of course is extra special because it's the dawn of Deepavali. 

The week has been a busy one, with some extra house work and preparation to usher this festival of lights, despite the normal routine of ever so busy mother of two exuberant toddlers. It's a festival that my eldest son, Kavin wait for, and soon my little one, Owen will also start chanting, ''Diwali is here!'' the moment he sees me making 'murukku' the traditional cookies which commonly is a must during Deepavali.



It has been  seven years,  since I spent the last Deepavali  with my beloved family and friends so close  back at home in Malaysia.  When you are away from homeland and loved ones; very far away from the throbbing pulse of celebrations, its then you realize the value of togetherness and joys that you shared and the exhilarating fun of the preparations.  The making of muruku, achimurukku, omapodi, laddu, nei urundai, paithapanirayam, kal urundai and many more traditional cookies and sweets some days before, the shopping for new cloths thoughtfully bought for parents, sisters, brother-in-laws, nephews and nieces, fire crackers, food, earthen lambs, kolam, flowers  and the most important of all the joyful day itself with family and friends who visits are cultures that need to be nurtured.

Back at home, on the day or prior to Deepavali, you don’t have to extend invitation to family and friends to visit but everybody simply visits everyone that celebrates. That’s how unique is the unity and understanding of families and friends from all walks of life. So, sweet are the memories that as I am writing, it still can bring smile to my face and tears in my eyes.

Meanwhile, here in London, Deepavali or better known as ‘Diwali’ has very little trace.  Schools are open as usual (except for the schools in the boroughs that have too many Hindus who celebrate Diwali),streets are bare without decorations and lights, no Deepavali bazaar but Christmas sales, no crowds rushing to shop,and  no Deepavali traffic jams.

However, London is so diversified that in the diversity, the colours of the festival can strangely be felt in some areas where there are many North Indians or British of Indian origins. Diwali spirit starts a week before the festival of lights with the crackling sounds of fireworks that sometimes I can hear or see from my home while watching the jingling Christmas advertisement on the  the mainstream television channel.  On the day, most of the Indian sweets shops will be extremely busy   and temples will hold special  prayers but apart from that the exhilaration of the preparation is never the same as in Malaysia.

All these years far away in a foreign land, I realized life is all about changes and being adaptive to it. Being a mum, I want my sons to experience the joy and the spirit of Deepavali just as how I have enjoyed my Deepavali during my childhood.  So, in my very own way, I create the ambience, I make traditional cookies and sweets, decorate my home, draw kolam, light up the earthen lamp, buy new cloths for my sons, deliver cookies and sweets to my neighbours, have friends around and say a little prayer with the hope soon,  my little family  and I will be back in Malaysia ;  back to my home to celebrate Deepavali with all my loved ones.  

 I can hear my son calling, it's their time to wake up. Happy Deepavali to all of you.

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