Diwali

This morning I am recovering from what was one of my most exhausting weeks. Thanks to one of those BareEssentuals foot balms, I slept really well and am planning out what is going to be a reasonably busy day. Diwali starts tomorrow. In America, given that everything is weekend oriented, for the past few years it has become a tradition in our home to invite several friends over the adjoining weekend. It is a lot of work but well worth it, I think and brings the spirit of Diwali, given that we don't celebrate several of the festivals at home. While the children are still in elementary school, we have been able to convey that spirit of Diwali to each of their classrooms, to the staff and it is fun for everyone.
I do wonder though - with all that work and the post-tiredness, why do I do it every year? I think I don't really have an answer but mostly I think its because I always think of my grandmother and her enthusiasm and how she enjoyed doing so much even later as she got older and more tired. It helps me keep her memory alive. It brings back lots of wonderful childhood memories growing up in India hoping to transport some of that across the seas to a different continent, where it mingles with the Halloween celebrations which typically comes very close to Diwali.
There are no firecrackers but then that's something we have reconciled to. There are lights and more lights and food and more food and lots of friends, very little family. My mother is around every once in a while. This year she is back in India and I did miss her yesterday as she will try and do whatever her physical ability permits her to do.
Here's hoping the spirit of Diwali carries on through the next generation...