This year I decided to head home for Diwali. The feeling was different since VT and I decided to be with our respective parents. It meant we would not be together but on the positive side, both sides of the parents weren’t alone.
It took me 8 years to come home for Diwali and I captured it the best I could in my heart and in my camera.
Let me take you on a trip to my side of the world.
It started with a Rangoli I spotted at the Varanasi airport. Big, bright and colorful. The artists were giving it final touches and looked very neat.
//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.jsThe night I reached home, it was the pre-Diwali eve and Mum lighted a diya for Tulsi ji (the holy basil).
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While the pooja preparations were being done, there was a whiff of nostalgia. Things I had seen all my life – like the idols and Mum’s sindoor.
Have you heard of aipon? Soaked rice and turmeric is ground together to make an instant paste for rangoli. As it dries up, the art work stays and lights up homes. Mum made it again this year and what caught my attention was these feet. It’s believed that through the aipon, you can lead Goddess Lakshmi in to your house.
The pooja is an elaborate one with a lot of singing of the aartis. No prizes for guessing, Mum led the way and photography kept me distracted.
Aalta, a tradition for married women.
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Guess what was cherry on the cake? Lai made an effort like last year to share with us the Rangoli from Canary Wharf, London. Thank you, Lai for your kindness.
Wishing you all happy times ahead. May your and your loved ones life be full of happiness and food.
Writing for Day 6 of Write Tribe Problogger Challenge.
happiness and food 
What a lovely homecoming and celebration for Diwali, Parul. Nice that you and VT could spend it with your respective parents, and I’m sure the two of you were also thinking about each other 🙂 It never fails to surprise me how colourful Diwalia and Indian culture is, and it looks like not just a lot of time but a lot of heart put into the rali wangoli. Happy Diwali, and wishing you the best of luck 🙂
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Happy Diwali, Parul.
Like Christmas Indian festival Diwali is also about celebrating with family. Even though all Indian festivals are celebrated with near and dear, Diwali has different significance. I’m sure spending Diwali with your parents must have been a happy moment for your parents and you.
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Parul, your post is filled with so much nostalgia and love for the childhood memories and your loved ones that it warms our hearts when we read it and see your pictures. My mother is also the lead bhajan singer in our house 🙂 she scolds us when we don’t sing along with her. Glad you had a great Diwali, may you have many more such beautiful moments to share with us. Loved the rangolis.
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Those were beautiful pictures of the festival that brings happiness and good cheer in every household.
And, the best part of it was you and your husband were with your respective parents! What better gift could you guys have given your parents! Touched!
Hugs, Parul! And, a happy Diwali!
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Lovely pictures. The Rangoli on the airport is exquisite. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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Lovely pix. Good to see the global impact of Diwali.
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Looks like you had a lovely and meaningful celebration of Diwali. Loved the images.
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Beautiful Diwali and rangoli images cum print. Good that both of you are with respected parents, Btw, it’s a good way to explore your relationship. It deserves a fresh post.
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Wonderful rangolis and good to know about your tradition. Glad that you enjoyed your Diwali with parents.
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Traditions and festivities… beautiful in their own sweet way. Glad you had a great Diwali back home.
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What gorgeous rangoli pics – such imagination, neatness and the colour combos were just stunning! I loved this post of how you have captured all the nuances of how Diwali is celebrated in our households – could see so many similarities there though the aippon was new for me! Hope you had a beautiful and love filled Diwali this year Parul!
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Diwali is always amazing when spent at home. This year I spent it with my in laws and had so much fun.
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My mom has the exact same sindoor box. And I saw alta after such a long time. Mom uses it during karwa chauth. I remember looking for it when N had her bharatnatyam show.
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Lovely post Parul…..wonderful Diwali pictures and write up…..Happy Diwali…..:)
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Thank you Anindya!
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That was nice of you to show us a glimpse of your Diwali celebrations. I liked how you and VT decided to celebrate in your own respective homes this year. That’s nice. Beautiful pictures, Parul. 🙂
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Loved this side of DIwali! Thanks for taking us on this ride Parul! These are some brilliant pictures
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You had an amazing Diwali I would say. It is so nice to be home and enjoy what we do best – stick to our traditions and customs.
I didn’t know about aipon…good to know how you lead goddess Lakshmi☺️
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Diwali is about family, laughter, happiness and joy. It is truly like the rangoli will make. Nice blog about nostaligia, childhood and more
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Thanks for giving us a glimpse of your Diwali through the photographs. Diwali is associated with coming home and celebrating this festival together with our dear ones and family, I realise I had completely forgotten Alta. I must have seen women applying alta ages back in my native village. Those Rangolis look splendid.
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Such pretty pictures, Parul and what can be a better way than celebrating Diwali in your childhood home. Loved each pic.
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Thanks Rachna! It was lovely 🙂
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wow…. lovely pics…. I am glad u enjoyed Diwali
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That’s so beautiful. It is great that you could spend time with your parents for Diwali!! It must have been a lovely trip down memory lane.. Happy Diwali!!
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Omg the rangoli designs are so beautiful… Wowww I am amazed. Aipon is something I had never heard of before. Love the idea f goddess feet leading to house.
Hope you had a wonderful Diwali.
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It was lovely and different. Thank you Raji 🙂
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Diwali at home must have been wonderful. I can see you’ve had a great time capturing the moments. The aalta is very much a part of the Bengali tradition though it is much less common among city-bred folks except for weddings. The aipon is like our alpana where we make the goddess Laxmi’s feet too in quite a similar way!
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I love the festival of lights, Diwali. Though i have decided to stay away from lighting crackers 4 years back. I still enjoy lighting diya’s and decorating my home with them 🙂
Those were some beautiful captures Parul!
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