Diwali post

This was Akshaj's first Diwali in Bangalore(actually mine also)...last year he was with me in my parents home...and since he takes active part in everything we do now (like if I try to clean the mandir ..he will come and sit on it) so doing diwali preparation was very exiting and challenging...

Diwali was on Saturday ...and since everyone was so occupied after running around with Akshaj it was only on Friday night I could start decorating the 'mandir'...(that too after Akki finally slept)...so I slept real late ..

But I had not even imagined in my dreams that I will be woken by sounds of crackers at 5 a.m in the morning ...I had heard that Diwali in Bangalore is celebrated in the morning times..but crackers 5 'o clock in morning and they generously continued for 3-4 hours after that ...even Akshaj woke up early and scared with so much sound ..

On the Diwali day we also make 'Devi(Godess Lakshni) '...for that we take Devi's face and attach it on tripod made by sugarcane sticks.These sugarcane sticks are held on a heavy plate(which has corners) and we keep 'kheel' and Lord Ganesha and Godesss Lakshmi silver coin .Then we decorate it further with lehanga and chunni for Devi and malas ...This work is usually done by my father-in-law...

And this is how finally the Devi's and the mandir after all the decoration...You can also see a board with red and white design below it ..normally instead of making rangoli ....You can also see a board with red and white design below it ..normally instead of making rangoli ...we use this red base called "geru" make design over it with powdered rice(rice put in water overnight and grounded next day) mixed with water.Akshaj just loved the makeover and was hoping we all vanish from that area so that he can do some hands-on on how we have done this ..

And I even made a small rangoli(first time) with color paints as I knew if I did it original way it will not last even for a minute ...And since Akshaj was super-exited with everything happening around I did it in least possible time .. And then as outside firecrackers had started ..Akshaj was busy hearing the sounds of all the bombs ..though he was very scared yet he was in balcony to hear the sounds ..so he went with dadaji for a live show outside...but in few minutes he was back crying uncontrollably ...and later when crying was over he started making so many sounds ..woof ..woof ..etc with huge face to show all of us that there were lots of noises like this happening outside ..it was a so much fun to watch him explaining what happened to make him cry so much ..

We normally do not burst any cracker on Diwali ...just bring one 'fuljhadi'(came to know its called sursurbatti here) packet ..but as this was Akshaj's first Diwali and he likes fire very much we bought all non-sound crackers like pencil,anar,fuljadhi ,chakkri..

And since we had brought them, we thought we will take Akshaj outside again....we went to terrace as nobody was bursting crackers there ..but the moment we lighted pencil again the tears started to roll off ...and to pacify for our guilt of making him cry ..we let him watch lots of songs in TV ..so that he becomes normal again...

Then we did the puja and Akshaj obviusly had to join it ...we just can't keep him away from puja area for too long anyway ..he just loves to go there ..

And this is Akshaj putting the kheel in the house ...we have to do put them in all the rooms of the house ..actually lady of the house ..who is considered as lakshmi has to do it ..but since he is the start of the house so he also did it along with me ...You can also see the 'Lakshmi paav(feet)' which we make in all the rooms and till puja...on Diwali day Godess Lakshmi is supposed to come in all the houses over these feets and supposed to fill the houses with you know what ..Lakshmi ..meaning prosperity ...

And finally some great Diwali food and our Happy Diwali over !!