Published first on Nov. 1, 2013--This year Dhanteras is on November 11. Go buy some jewellery something metallic....it brings prosperity....
Today is Dhanteras, the wealthy thirteenth. When you buy something for your households. I used to keep track of these holidays. In many ways still do.
These holidays were meant for a time when we did not go berserk with extra cash in our pockets. Those were the times when we had no extra cash.
But these holidays were established days when you would buy a special instrument, gadget or piece of jewelry for yourself or the family, that otherwise you would not indulge in. By keeping such days aside we allowed our minds to rest the rest of the year. We knew we have allotted days for indulging.
But today, my heart hurts, as I see crass commercialism, 24/7.
When I called home today and mom said, ‘Its dhanteras today’ memories came flooding back. Our parents would be out and about this day, shopping for the house, visiting other relatives. It was only two days before Diwali and much needed to done.
We kids would be home trying not to burn the house down with the crackers or not kill ourselves with overdose of homemade sweets.
I was lucky to spend my Diwali in India in 2009, and very lucky to have spent three Diwalis in Fiji.
Today, for some reason, commercialization and mindless consumerism is hard to deal with. And yet, I think I will go to the grocery store and buy that steel ladle that I have needed for the last six months.
And I should really be happy that we have such days---when we force ourselves to add a little something to our lives--that makes them better.
Long live India, the land of holidays and festivals. Each day comes with its attributes, each evening is a hope.
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