Diwali is here. Usually, I am at my parent's place around this time of the year. This is the first time in five years that I am celebrating the festival of lights in my house with just the three of us and a whole lot of friends to compensate for our family. And, this also meant, I had to indulge in the usual pre-Diwali preparations which included making of the Diwali sweets and savouries that I'd conveniently skipped so far at the parents' house.
However, I was pretty excited from the word go and was looking forward to buying diyas, decorative lights, sprucing up the home and even making the bakshanams (the sweets and savouries). Last week was a whirlwind activity of polishing off the dust and clutter from the house. There was a donation drive in our complex and I happily gave away some old clothes to under-privileged children. I planned ahead and shopped for the lovely lights, decorative diyas and ready-to-make rangoli design moulds. These moulds are a big boon for people like me who can only look wistfully at lovely rangolis in front of other creative folk's houses because we cannot draw even straight lines, leave alone make a flowery design!
So, here we are: (excuse the poor photography, I blame the camera ;-)
I successfully prepared some traditional sweets and savouries, after some sweat and effort. So, yay to that!
I was not too keen on buying and bursting crackers but had to give in to hubby and R's excitement levels. R thoroughly loved watching the colourful fireworks. We had a small get-together in our complex a day before Diwali, with yummy food stalls, art and handiwork for display and sale, exciting games and the famous housie. I never ever win at Housie, yet buy the tickets religiously each time. There is some weird fun and excitement in anticipating the number on your tickets to be called out. While, this time too I did not win at the Housie, I won a gift voucher at a musical quiz. So, that made my day :-)
So, how did you guys celebrate Diwali? Wishing you all a fun-filled, prosperous and safe Diwali!
However, I was pretty excited from the word go and was looking forward to buying diyas, decorative lights, sprucing up the home and even making the bakshanams (the sweets and savouries). Last week was a whirlwind activity of polishing off the dust and clutter from the house. There was a donation drive in our complex and I happily gave away some old clothes to under-privileged children. I planned ahead and shopped for the lovely lights, decorative diyas and ready-to-make rangoli design moulds. These moulds are a big boon for people like me who can only look wistfully at lovely rangolis in front of other creative folk's houses because we cannot draw even straight lines, leave alone make a flowery design!
So, here we are: (excuse the poor photography, I blame the camera ;-)
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| R dancing away to glory |
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| Fireworks |
I successfully prepared some traditional sweets and savouries, after some sweat and effort. So, yay to that!
I was not too keen on buying and bursting crackers but had to give in to hubby and R's excitement levels. R thoroughly loved watching the colourful fireworks. We had a small get-together in our complex a day before Diwali, with yummy food stalls, art and handiwork for display and sale, exciting games and the famous housie. I never ever win at Housie, yet buy the tickets religiously each time. There is some weird fun and excitement in anticipating the number on your tickets to be called out. While, this time too I did not win at the Housie, I won a gift voucher at a musical quiz. So, that made my day :-)
So, how did you guys celebrate Diwali? Wishing you all a fun-filled, prosperous and safe Diwali!
Happy Diwali uma! Second u on the rangoli moulds, such a boon! I can't draw a kolam to save my life. I've already posted on what we did for diwali, so won't belabour the point...do tell what bakshanams were made!
ReplyDeleteyep, read what you guys did..I made wheat laddoo, coconut barfi, ribbon pakoda and mixture :-)
DeleteLovely rangoli decorations and diyas .. And three cheers for the bakshanam making!! We had a lot of relatives visiting home and for lunch .. So that itself filled the day apart from eating sweets and savories throughout :)
ReplyDeleteHey and its still not technically late to wish you :) Happy Diwali!!
Deletethank you, Aarthy! people visiting is another best part about this festival. And, happy Diwali to you too! Diwali wishes can be given throughout the week and yet it is not belated :-)
DeleteHappy Diwali Uma. Hope you had a good one. This time, for the first time in a decade after marriage, I tried to cook something on own and they came out really good..:)Even I never win Housie, I am always almost there but not complete..
ReplyDeleteyes, even I made the bakshanams for the first time with great trepidation but the results were worth the effort :-)
DeleteHey Uma...the pics are lovely!!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful Diwali... take care!
Thank you, Me.Wish you the same!
DeleteEnjoyed your post! Nice reading how everyone celebrates festivals. Wish you all a happy Diwali!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Vibha. Wish you the same!
Deleteah very nice rangoli and decoration loved you colorful post :D
ReplyDeleteHappy Deepavali :)
Thank you, Ramya and wishes to you too!
DeleteRead the post yesterday itself and knew you enjoyed your Deepavali with self made bakshanams and won a prize too!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kp sir! Hope you had a great Diwali too.
DeleteHappy Diwali Uma and yes you should blame the camera and night fall too :P
ReplyDeleteBut very nice rangolis yaar... :)
Happy Diwali to you too, Jas!
DeleteBeautiful pictures and lovely rangoli
ReplyDeleteyou had a fun time :)
Bikram's
thank you, Bikram! Hope you had a great Diwali too.
Deleteoh how lovely :):)Happy Diwali!!!!
ReplyDeleteWish you too the same, RM! :-))
DeleteHi Uma,
ReplyDeleteSeems like you had a fun-filled Diwali!! Beautiful rangoli and diyas... And although I like the concept of eco-friendly Diwali, i feel Diwali remains incomplete without crackers!! I burst a lot of crackers.. but not the noisy ones :D
hey sorry for replying so late...
Deleteyes, did have a fun Diwali, Radhika! Hope you had a great one too :-)
I can see you had a lot of fun :). And making bakshanams all on your own - quite an achievement! I haven't crossed that bridge yet ;).
ReplyDeleteBelated Diwali wishes! Apologies I couldn't respond to you on that day, lots of people at home and too much stuff going on what with S falling sick too as you know.
Ah..Bakshanams were my first time..and yes, I felt quite accomplished for a few days since they also turned out well ;-) :-)
DeleteBelated Diwali to you too..have been tardy in replying to comments :-(
Good to know that you had a great Diwali and the Rangolis look nice :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jayashree..can't take much credit for the rangolis, though as you've read ;-)
DeleteHappy Diwali Uma. That rangoli design is really pretty!
ReplyDeletethanks, Rachna..wish you a belated Diwali too!
DeleteWhen I see pictures like this I sooo know wht I'm missing. If were in India all my neighbours wd have done just like u have shown and all of us wd have been buzzing in excitement together. I sooo miss all tht;-(
ReplyDeleteLoved ur rangoli[u r an artist;-o] and diyas:-))!!!
aww..I know what you mean..but you can celebrate minus crackers, right?
Deleteand yes, I'm an artist..very creative, esp with rangolis and stuff :/ :-)
Belated Diwali wishes :) I flew down to Kolkata to celebrate Diwali at home with my parents and other relatives :) burst a lot of crackers - did not eat a lot of sweets though :) Had fun :D :D
ReplyDeletewow..it must have been a lot fun, Divya! belated wishes to you too..:-)
DeleteBelated Diwali wishes, Uma.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I love that design in the second picture. It's beautiful.
thank you Divya! wish you the same :-)))
Delete