For the past 4 years ...we've been welcoming Deepavali without dad by our side. I wouldn't use the word 'celebrating' since there's no celebration without dad around anymore. Nevertheless..mom made sure we welcomed the festival of lights the same old way. Since childhood we've been taught to respect this festival. Mom and sis will be in charge of food preparation where as dad and i will take care of the house cleaning and decoration stuff. We lived in a small house. Deepavali Eve ...we have the deepavali eve dinner. We pray for the dead...my grandpa and my dad's mom. After that we enjoy dinner...the four of us. We didn't have ASTRO back then so it was RTM or TV3 we watch. Early morning...mom will wake us up. She'll be the first one up. Mom is so energetic. I admire her for that. My sis will be second one up. Dad and i will be the last ...hahaha...considering we hate waking up early. Yet...we'll be the first ones ready. Hihihi. Mom will prep us for oil bath. We will pray together. mom and dad will give us the new dress. We will all get ready and walk to the temple nearby our house. The temple will be filled with people we know...our friends. That's the good thing about staying in a small town. We know each other. After prayers we greet each other. We head home after that and treat ourselves to the traditional must have breakfast for Deepavali...tosai and chicken curry. yummmyyyy !
This year i went home Friday night after work. (MAS) Flight was at 9pm and reached home around 11pm. Saturday and Sunday i spent the day cleaning and doing last minute shopping. We prayed for dad on Sunday. Purely vegetarian. Every year it was our grandad(s) and it hurt to pray for dad these 4 years. On Deepavali day we did the usual thing. i love traditions. Our family friends came by for breakfast and lunch. The firecrackers and 'matthapoo' marked the welcoming of Deepavali. This year is speacil for us cos we are celebrating in our house....our own casa. No more rented house. It was remarkable and memorable. Yet....we wished dad was with us. We know he's happy too... Yesterday (Tuesday) was Ammavasai..a day to pray for fathers who passed away... We went to the Shivan temple and prayed. yesterday also marked that mom will be vegetarian for 10 days due to KandaShasthi (for Lord Murugan). She's being following the tradition influenced by my late grandad...her father in law. Since mom is vegetarian...we'll be too. I have a week rest at home. taking time to rest and enjoying mom's cooking. Till then..here's a few pics of Deepavali...my way...
happy deepavali to all ;)
