Whether it’s Eid, Easter, Diwali or Christmas, many of us find ourselves in a state of reflection as we engage in the rituals and traditions with which we grew up. Through various seasons of our lives, these engagements wax and wane. At times they can make you cry. And at times, they can make you laugh. The opposite emotions bring some sort of balance.
I’ve been following a friend online as she’s been going through the rituals of preparing for Diwali. For more than a week in advance of the date, she’s been making (from scratch) a variety of treats, both sweet and savoury. Amidst all of this preparation, life goes on – work, taking care of the home and family, complete with school and extracurricular drop off and pick up. It’s nothing new or different from what many people are doing but what I found interesting is how this year, all the Diwali preparations that she’s been doing is marked by the memory of her Mom who passed away two years ago.