Saturday, October 29, 2005

Deepavali...away again...

This is the second year in succession I will be away from home during Deepavali. For the last 3-4 years, I had lost the significance of Deepavali in Bangalore. Too much of firecrackers, pollution, noise,etc... In fact, I had gotten bugged of bursting crackers when I was in 9th Standard... Gave it up totally in 10th...

But what I have really started to miss is the festive spirit that comes along with it...and not to mention the food :D (slurp...slurp)

It definitely is true that you only start recognizing the value of mundane things after being away from them for some time. I knew that I was pro-traditional values, but not till I came to the US. Now I understand what Indians have that is second to none - a superb culture. I used to eat out every other day in Bangalore - Dose camp, paani puris, gobi manchuris, paav bhajis, etc... but never gave them a second thought as I lived in Jayanagar within tripping distance(eDavi biddare anthaaralla haage) of 4th block shopping complex. Here in USA, everything is a delicacy... from anna saaru to all the delicacies...

And the countless times that my mother used to pester me to come and attend the weddings, naamakaranas, upnayanas and other functions in the family... and how I used to detest going there... Now I cant go even if I want to ...

I knew that I was a Kannadaabhimaani... had that love for kannada litt from a long time... but I didnt know how much I appreciate Kannada literature and poetry till I came here ...

Maybe, we all should spend some time away from our humdrum attachments to realize their true values.

Current Mood: Nostalgic
Current Music: Koi lauta de mere beethe huye din

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

no firecrackers for me, as well. They're just some addition to Bangalore's already paramount pollution problem and such waste of time.

Hey, diwali won't have color this time for most Indians after all these rains creating havoc and now the blasts in Delhi. :(

Unknown said...

I know Hari... thats really sad. Earlier, the CRPF and Armed forces used to throw a blanket security over the metros (esp Delhi) for Republic and Independence Day ... But if this persists, it looks like the Armed Forces will have to stand guard inside our country instead of the border... and the number of festivals we have, ooh.. it might be all year round...

Unknown said...

Same here... missing Deepavali for continuously for so many years...
I agree totally with realizing the importance of the mundane things about our lives when we can not experience them..
Ondu taradalli olleyade anni.. naanu bhaaratadalle iddiddre namma jeevanashailiya bagge eegiroshtu asakti torisuttiddeno ilvo.

A very timely post!

mood: nostalgic
song: ChoD aaye hum O galiya

Ajay Ravichandran said...

Definitely agree with you magaaa....we appreciate things only when we are far away from it...the great principles interwoven into the culture is apparent only when we are away from it ...and man yeah i miss the food....

Anonymous said...

nan case ondhthara reverse, naanu bengalooralle idhini, aadhre nanna parivaara (cousins, aunts, etc) yelru US/Australiage hogi settleaagogidhaare! :-)

Btw wrt Kannada you might consider contributing or atleast getting involved in discussions (well that's the level I'm at) on samapada