It’s time for family bonding
Aditi Garg

Chandigarh: There is time and place for every kind of celebration, believes the Jain family

RAJ Rani Jain, 70, is a warm-hearted matriarch who believes that like everything else in life, traditions should also be allowed to evolve. Her husband, a retired engineer, P.P Jain, is the head of the Jain family in Chandigarh. For them, it is a time for family bonding and performing rituals while also allowing for changes.

P.P. Jain, a septuagenarian, says, "When I was young, Divali was a simple affair with little decorations and crackers. All we did was light a few diyas and say our prayers. Now it is becoming a competition to outdo others in decorations and fireworks displays." Raj Rani brought with her the customs that she had learnt over the years at her parents’ home. She says, "For us, Divali is not a one-day festival, it starts two days before, with the mori deeva in which we place a diya near a drain in the evening and say our prayers. The next day is Dhanteras, for which we used to buy metal utensils but now buy something in gold. Next day, we celebrate Chhoti Divali, a day before Divali, by placing seven diyas on a hatri and lighting them. The hatri has also undergone a transformation; from being a humble hut made of mud, it has evolved into a miniature silver home. My daughter-in-law brought with her a fresh perspective that she has added to the festival."

Anita Jain, 43, the daughter-in-law of the house, chips in, "What is a festival without a feast? After I got married, I started making special snacks and sweets for Divali. From preparing sugared walnuts and salted cashew nuts to jaggery laddoos and many more sweet and savoury delicacies, everything adds to the celebrations. I also love to present home-made cakes to relatives and friends who appreciate them very much." Her husband, an engineer, A.K. Jain, 45, believes that Divali is incomplete without the brilliance of lights. Though his father would use candles and diyas, he believes in going all out and no expenses are spared to light up every nook and cranny with LEDs and strings of fairy lights.

The younger lot, Dhruv Raj Jain, 21, and Dinker Jain, 14, are equally excited about the festival. Dhruv sums it up perfectly when he says, "While my mother and grand-mother have their traditions, I like to be a part of the festivities by helping with the decorations and rangoli. The best part is bursting the loudest and maximum crackers amongst the neighbourhood kids."

HOME