Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Sweet Diwali!
TO THE anytime-anywhere-whatever adjustable Malayali, Diwali is more a festival of sweets than lights. In the cosmopolitan social scene that is evolving in Kochi, native Malayalis are celebrating Diwali like their North Indian and Tamil friends, with equal gusto. A long oil bath and sweets was what Diwali meant in the old days. But today, when everyone is looking for an excuse to celebrate something, all festivals, of all religions and races, are celebrated in style by everyone.
Sweet packets, specially conjured up for the occasion, have nearly disappeared from the shelves of most shops. The assorted packets found the biggest responses, being cut out for gift-bags, say shop owners; the more colourful, the better.
North Indian business families in the city have pujas in their offices. "That is why you see most of the offices on Willingdon Island all decked up on the day with panditjis chanting mantras," says Ragini Singh, a member of the vast tea business community in the city. The North Indians usually plan the day well, with relatives and friends and get-togethers to make it a memorable occasion. But this time, the North Indian Diwali falls on November 12. The fact that they are far away from their homeland gives the small communities a feeling of camaraderie, while celebrating together. A sizeable packet is kept apart for the fire-crackers and of course everyone wears new clothes. That practice is something that Malayalis have adopted happily, while some have been forgotten.
"There was a practice in Kerala in the old days of giving oil (for a bath), new clothes and a sumptuous lunch to the needy, but now, charity has another face," says Anandam R Nair, from a Kayamkulam village, who made Kochi her home two decades ago.
Tamilians go traditional on the day, with Brahmins wearing the nine-yard sari and doing pujas. What the children of all communities enjoy is the exchange of sweet packets. What was home-made is now bought off the shelves, but the surprise element tickles.
Hotels have geared up with some Diwali toppings on their menus. The Taj Residency is planning a Diwali bash with a special mithai and farzaan counter, to add sweetness to the day, says. At Tharavadu, of the cghearth, Diwali menus, fire crackers, celebrations by the poolside, are all on November 11 and 12, says, Premnath, General Manager.
Happy Diwali!
PM
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
