Dilwali Diwali

It’s been an unwarranted staycation for the ‘Festival of Lights’ this year, hasn’t it? No fun-filled soirees with friends, no relatives thronging the house days in advance, no exotic vacays, and with fewer diyas, Amdavadis enjoyed a muted but more intimate celebration with family

Wonder how many people today would say, ‘What a time to be alive!’ Thanks to the rogue virus, most of us have spent the better part of the year inside our homes. And it seems festivities too are forced to enjoy a staycation this time. After Navratri went indoors, Diwali, too, has admittedly gone low-key. Citizens, for whom Diwali vacay would mean running off into the hills or to exotic locales, have scrapped their travel plans, settling for a ‘homemade’ Diwali or ringing in the festival at their farmhouse.

Amdavadis have said a no-no to upscale soirees as well, with no friends coming over to bond over food and conversations. It was all about spending time indoors with family, decking up the home in minimalistic décor, performing puja, sharing prasad and sweets, and thanking god for everything before a festive meal.

Here, these Amdavadis tell us how they have taken a step back this Diwali, how different it feels to not have boarded a flight or not lit up the house with 500 diyas, and have no relatives come over.

Here’s wishing you a Happy no-frills Diwali!

SHILPA PUGALIA
Entrepreneur

THIS TIME LAST YEAR: Puja and celebrations with family and relatives

THIS TIME: Missed elders during Dhanteras puja, no relatives coming over

At the Pugalias this time, entrepreneurbahu Shilpa missed the presence of the elders of the house. “My in-laws were down with cold, and as precaution, they were home-quarantined for past 15 days. We wanted to keep them safe,” says Shilpa. After they tested negative, the family then sat for a festive meal together. On Dhanteras, Shilpa revealed she had to perform the puja alone.

“On Dhanteras, we have a proper, full-fledged puja followed by a feast. But I missed my in-laws’ presence this time. For me, the look and feel of a festival is incomplete without elders of a family. We realised the importance of being together during this period because all of us were in the same house but talking on FaceTime or phone calls,” says Shilpa.

The family loves being traditional during festivities. “We do flower rangolis, have LED lighting and as for crackers, we haven’t burst these in a decade!”


DEVIBA WALA
Artist-curator

THIS TIME LAST YEAR: Home buzzing with visiting relatives, big family dinner

THIS TIME: Quiet celebration with father and grandmother

Are Indian festivals ever complete without friends and family? No, of course not. For Deviba, Diwali is all about celebrating with friends and family. Last year, the artist’s home was packed with kith and kin, while this time, she is quietly ringing in with her father, Punjabapu Mandavgadh, her grandmother, and Snowball, her Persian cat.

“The puja on Diwali day is usually followed with a big dinner and friends come over. The house is full of people and overall, there is just the usual festive feeling. Sometimes, we get together for a bonfire and barbecue at the farm with friends or a trip to the village.

“This time, I am glad my loved ones are safe and I decided to have a quiet puja at home with dad and my grandma who is more than 90 years old. So, I make the effort to be around her,” says Deviba, adding that “there is this renewed appreciation of the small things now”.


ANUJA NANAVATI
Fitness trainer

THIS TIME LAST YEAR: Celebrating with family and friends in person

THIS TIME: With friends and family on video calls

This Diwali is gharwali Diwali for the Nanavatis. “Everything is more or less made at home, with lots of love. Covid-19 pandemic has changed everything but the spirit of Diwali remains the same. This time, we have organised family meals over video calls. My daughters and I made special food hampers for close friends. My kids, husband, and I have decided to have a staycation this weekend. The kids are planning give the house a makeover for the holiday feel.


PANTHIL MAJMUDAR
High Court advocate

THIS TIME LAST YEAR: Took a trip to Ooty

THIS TIME: Vacationing in Udaipur

It is a green Diwali for Panthil Majmudar and his family. “We will not burst crackers as the world is facing a pandemic and the polluted air can harm the patients. We have come to Udaipur by road and are staying at a secluded place with immediate family. We have decided to wish our relatives and friends on video calls. It’s a different kind of celebration this year.”


PURVA DAMANI
Director, 079|STORIES

THIS TIME LAST YEAR: Vacationing in Turkey

THIS TIME: At home with family

Like most people living in Gujarat, travelling is second nature. Besides the two-month summer vacation, for our globetrotting junta, Diwali is also a much looked-forward- to time to set out with family. For Purva and family, Diwali vacay is always about great trips. “We travel every year on Diwali with family, but this year we are not going anywhere. Last year, we brought in Diwali in Turkey,” Purva tells us, few hours before a family dinner, “where all of us are going to be decked up”. The Damanis also vowed to not burst firecrackers this year and advocated the same to close family and friends.


CHUNCHUN MEHTA DEVANI
Architect-calligrapher

THIS TIME LAST YEAR: Soiree with friends, decked up home with 500 diyas

THIS TIME: Only lit 50 diyas, muted celebrations with husband and two daughters

Friends, a lavish spread of food (prepared by Chunchun herself) and lighting up hundreds of diyas. This is what this architectcalligrapher- interior designer’s Diwali would look like each year. However, like with most things and events in 2020, her family’s festive celebrations have been toned down. “This time, it’s just the four of us, my husband, two daughters and me. Last year, we had friends over, which is like an annual ritual,” says Chunchun.

“I had lit 500 diyas in 2019, but this year, I have gone low-key with only about 50 or so. The décor is missing the usual LED fairy lights, too. We have not indulged in bursting crackers in the past few years. “I always cook an extravagant feast for friends and family. This year, however, we kept it simple with a meal of grilled chicken and veggies,” she adds.