Festival of Lights

Diwali - Used to be my favourite festival. A reminder of the achievements through the year celebrated by pampering yourself with new clothes and lighting up candles and colourful lights. Also, kind of beginning of my Birthday season :)

This year however, I can't help but wonder if it still means the same to me....

This year, I found Diwali to be a Very Loud & Noisy affair. The Lane outside our house was full of paper the next morning. The Air was so full of polluted smoke that I didn't want to inhale.

For once in my life, I am glad my parents were very particular about what I did on Diwali. Have a quick shower in the evening, Put on your nice clothes, have a small Puja at home, have some 'mithai', light up all the candles & diyas around the house, about 30 to 40 minutes of bursting crackers and then spend time with family & friends. That's how I remember it to be....and how I wish it were still the same.

In contrast however, this year - It wasn't a day of Diwali - like most commercially promoted festivals worldwide [thanks to Archies, Hallmark & all those Jewellers], this year it felt like a Diwali week....to celebrate the Diwali week, you can do about 3 to 4 days of Gambling (Card) sessions, with an assorted array of alcohol brands and a good spread of food. Further more cracker bursting can go on 24/7 [there are laws around to avoid late nights & early mornings but who cares - its DIWALI.

Here is what I am majorly confused about - minus the irritable noise and air pollution - all I did last weekend was get together with friends over dinner and drinks, while some smoked & others gambled. Come to think of it, That's what most of my regular weekends are like.

So was the Diwali weekend all about the Noise & Air Pollution, that doesn't sound so good.........Let me put it this way, henceforth I promise to make my Diwali weekends more memorable and fruitful.

Savita Aur Sushim

This is the tale of 2 people who came into Bangalore for a weekend. Savita (urf Savvy)- the 24 hour Non Stop Entertainment Channel & Sushim - The comparatively quiet guy with a level head and a good taste in whisky.

Unfortunately for Sushim, a financial wizz - his darling wife didn't come with remote or any other form of control mechanism. I can almost picture the packing that said - "Handle with care" & "Switch on at your own risk", cause once she gets started, theres no stopping her.

Jokes apart, They are a wonderful couple and compliment each other beautifully. Sushim is a good friend to have around & Savvy has a gift that ensures everyone around her is always smiling.

Deepti & I haven't been going out lately [at least not as much as we used to] and the weekend with friends was a very welcome change.

Fortunately for us, some political guys called a 'Bandh' on wednesday, which allowed Deepti & I to get some rest after the long weekend with our friends from Mumbai.

Thank you Savitha & Sushim for a wonderful time.