Diwali is just around the corner. I am sure, just like me, you would also have your best childhood memories of Diwali.
Diwali is the most awaited festival of India and brings many unforgettable childhood memories especially if you don’t spend it the way, you used to.
As I looked out of the window, the sight of beautiful and bright-colored lanterns twinkled around my eyes; I closed my eyes and my heart was filled with happy childhood memories of Diwali, making me nostalgic.
Let me take you down my childhood memories lane and share my lovable Diwali short story, forever inked in my heart.
Know – What are my best childhood memories?
Diwali aka Deepawali is one of the huge festivals for Tamilians. Ideally, I should narrate the Diwali story in Tamil but as I want more people to know about our amazing cultures and festivities, I have written the Diwali short story in English.
Just like in other cultures, in a Tamil Iyengar household as well, the festivities begin a week before with a family gathering, a box of chocolates, and the tempting smell of freshly made savories like ribbon pakoda, karanji, murukku (chakli), etc.
As my mouth watered, I stared at the plate stacked in front of me with sweets like Rava Ladoo, Mysore Pak, Boondi Ladoo, etc. Every year I would eagerly wait for the chocolate barfi made by my Perima (Badi ma).
The week went into buying a new dress and fighting over firecrackers that had to be bought.
On the day of the festival of lights, I excitedly jumped out of bed, despite being woken up at 5 AM.
I saw an eccentric kolam or rangoli drawn on the entrance of the house. As my Periappa (bade papa) saw me eyeing at the firecracker basket, he shouted: “you can only burst 2 firecrackers now”.
After finishing the quota of 2 firecrackers each, all the cousins were shoving each other to enter the house. We were greeted by gingelly oil for an oil bath.
After the bath, it was time to wear new clothes. After showing my gratitude to the almighty and wearing the new dress, I sat down to have breakfast. That was an amazing culture and one of my best childhood diwali memories as well to remember ever.
Yummy Breakfast – Missing My Childhood Days – Childhood Diwali Memories
As a ritual, the food is served on a banyan leaf as it is considered hygienic and healthy.
After heart filling breakfast of steaming idli and Medu Vada, I enthusiastically ran outside with my cousins to fire some bottle rockets.
The lunch was a sumptuous and delicious spread. The banyan leaf is apt for this as there are usually so many dishes during Deepawali lunch.
We ate pachadi (raita), 2 vegetables (one of them being most prominent subji made with raw banana and another subji like brinjal, ladies finger, etc made with coconut), vadai (vada), appalam (fried papad), sweet (Rava ladoo, Mysore Pak), parruppu (dal), sambhar, rasam, and to top it all, a yummy semiyan (vermicelli) payasam or kheer.
FYI: Rice & Barley (sabudana) payasam taste equally good.
I felt so sleepy after having that extravagant meal that I just dozed off.
My best childhood memories of Diwali will be incomplete without the mention of night-time when the celebrations truly began. The house glittered like a sparkling jewel as the clay-made diyas were lit all around the house.
My Childhood Spanking Memories
Now, of course, most of us are concerned about noise and smoke pollution but as kids, no one bothered much then. Soon, the atmosphere was filled with roars from the bombs, the vibrancy of colors, laughter, and chitter-chatter of everyone especially us- children after lighting Anaar (flowerpots), Chakhari (ground spinner), Snakes, etc.
The sky was filled by the multi-colored lights sprinkled around.
I was deep in my childhood memories, when the doorbell rang, waking me up roughly to the present moment. But, as I opened my eyes, I found myself smiling.
As I walked towards the door, I realized that these heartfelt moments are a thing of the past & may not come back again.
We didn’t realize but in the process of growing up and life changes, the old customs got lost somewhere.
Wrapping Up
So these were all about my fun childhood memories about Diwali that I used to celebrate with my brother, cousins, neighbors, and my childhood friends. Now I am missing my childhood days and just wishing to enjoy them again.
I am very eager to know about your best childhood memories of Diwali? What are your happy and unforgettable childhood memories of Deewali celebrations? I am sure, you must be remembering childhood Diwali memories and wish the same as me to live the childhood once again and spread the sparkling Diwali love to all your dear ones.
Share your plan to celebrate Diwali in 2021. Also, share your thoughts on firecrackers. What’s your plan to make this Diwali a memorable as your childhood spanking memories?
