This post is coming up late on the blog because I am surprised I missed it in my gratitude post. It’s true that I learnt to let go of anger in that post and as a blogger friend said, I felt so much better getting it off my head. And this is a celebration post! It had stayed in the drafts for a longer time and finally found it’s light and got published. My new mother quote is, “Better late than never”, yes, with writing and a few other things that really matter as of now.

Anyway, I was thinking if I must name it as “My First Diwali as a Mother”, but then I didn’t get the time to actually dress up too. What seemed important to me was to dress comfortably for travel and feeding. Do you think that’s why I must name it so? 

Well, this Diwali was on my little one. So this is for her. She was gifted cute pattu paavadais by friends and family. Trust me, I haven’t personally picked even one dress for her in the last 6 months. In a way, I am thankful that she has a nice wardrobe already. I just find it difficult enough to choose from her collection. Imagine going to a shop and choosing one for her in less than an hour. I choose quick for me, but when it’s a gift I take my time. So its the same when I shop for her. My first shopping exclusive for her is yet to happen.

We celebrated Diwali at my mother-in-law’s place and it was a grand time. We were all worked up and time flew by so quick with morning food and prayer preparation activities. Usually on the day of Diwali, we prepare some non-vegetarian foods and tiffin items throughout the day, apart from loads of sweets, of course. Jamuns are our all-time favorite, but basundhi came in as a new-try this year. All credits to my co-sister and sister-in-law. After four hours of strenuous stirring, it was all set to be served. Right now, I hold the post of the assistant/helper in the family when it comes to cooking. Once in a while it bothers me that I am not the main-cook, however, when the little one cries while I cut the veggies, I feel thankful about it actually.

My husband was on a no-sweet diet and I loved this opportunity to have more sweets than usual. I don’t usually eat sweets, but somehow with a companion like him, we are known to eat more sweets than anybody at home. I arranged all the sweets before him when we sat down for lunch. My plan was to have only sweets for lunch and woo him to have them too. That’s when we decided to give Ilakkiya her first sweet treat. The Jamun Jeera. Her eyes were wide and she licked the spoon eagerly. The same evening, I gave her basundhi to taste, just the milk. That’s how her first Diwali started off with sweets! I had sweets and more sweets and just one dosa. I always eat 3/4th and never a full tummy. So that was my lunch. Okay, here’s the secret, hubby finished the remaining sweets and even told in a cute complaining tone that he did it because of me. He knows very well what sweets mean to him! What’s Diwali without sweets, I say!

What I did not like about the whole Diwali week were the fire-crackers. I used to burst during my school days, since those were the times all cousins got together and spent time followed by the nombu (fasting for Kedara Gowri followed by prayers). We never fast, all we did was eat adirasams and suyams after prayers and play again.

After our pet(Joy) came home, my sister and I decided not to burst because we saw him scared. We felt bad for causing so much noise which hurts their alert ears. We also saw many other street dogs finding places to hide due to noise. We have already increased the pollution levels, so now, even when less fire-crackers are being burst, the smoke is very high. Even though we had our doors closed, the hall was filled with smoke. I had to keep Ilakkiya almost covered and inside our bedroom the whole evening. I was worried about people with respiratory issues which I wasn’t aware of as young kid.

Hubby, Ilakkiya and I went to my Amma’s place for the nombu. After a nice lunch, Amma, Ammama and I started making adirasams. We had a gala time chit-chatting and making these festive goodies. I enjoyed my three day stay and nowadays my stays are now more based on Ilakkiya getting to know her maternal family better. I am glad she doesn’t cry with the change here and there. She was scared of the sound of the firecrackers every now and then, but luckily at Amma’s place we don’t hear it much. So she was free from the noise.

That’s how her Diwali was spent. Sweetie pie’s first Diwali was noisy, tasty and breezy!

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