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AUTHOR: ANUPRIYA JAIN, MSc ORGANISATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY, LSE

With a bowed head, Prince Ram left his father’s room and set out towards the forest with his wife and brother, both of whom had insisted on joining him. Thereon, they lived in exile battling evil forced and demons, the final one being Ravana, who abducted Ram’s wife. Achieving victory fourteen years later they returned home to rejoicing subjects and thousands of lamps lighting up the city on an otherwise moonless night. Diwali, the festival of lights, is therefore a celebration of homecoming. And the tradition has lived through the ages.

Out of the numerous festivals that India celebrates, this is perhaps why Diwali is the one that still brings everyone together at home. No other festival calls for coming home to being in PJ’s and helping to clean the house as soon as you arrive. You’d dust areas you never knew existed; you’d observe things in the house that have changed while you were gone. There’s bound to be a new addition to the living room that you are curious about now.

“When did you buy this?” you’d ask your mother.

“Oh we didn’t. Sanjay uncle gifted it to us…,” she’d go on to say and you’ll be enveloped in stories of what your parents did while you were away. You’d catch up on who’s getting married, who’s studying where and everything else that entails sweet familial gossip.

Once the tales were over, you’d go back to the dusting. Only to chance upon an old schoolbook five minutes later. You’d be lost in old memories while your hand would drop the duster and you’d sit down to leaf through the dog-eared book. You’d trace your fingers on the notes you made as a kid, along with the little doodles on the side, and little messages that your friends scribbled for you at the very back of the book. You’d smile, you might even cry. You’d take a little picture of this with your phone and send it to the friend you never managed to get back in touch with.

“Oh yes, Old times :),” he’d reply in a second and you’d smile wider. And that thread will lead to weaving a remembrance of the many years you two were together as kids. You’d make digs at each other, punctuating jokes with the emoticons that can only try but do justice to the overwhelming wave of joy you feel in your heart.

A shout from the kitchen would jolt you out of your trance and your senses would slowly receive wafts that you had only dreamt of on hungry nights while you were away from home. You wouldn’t believe it; you’d rush to the kitchen to check.

“Halwa?!” you’d shout with joy and your mother would smile back.

You’d dodge her gestures to keep you away and try to stick your finger into the vessel to get just one good lick. The spread of cashews she’d put last on top wouldn’t help either. And when you’ve finally showered and sat at the dining table, you’d wonder at the familiarity of the same old crockery and table-mats, the same old chinks in the table cover that annoyed you when you ate your favourite food laid out at the table, you’d know you’ve come home.

And so if you couldn’t have your homecoming this Diwali, if you’re sitting far away from family going through the pictures that others have put on Facebook with adorning Indian attires and a wide smile with family in the living room, all is not lost yet. It’s a memory, it’s an experience, you can recreate it.

You could start by finally taking out that huge suitcase out from under your bed and fishing through the clothes you thought you’d never get a chance to wear. In a city where you usually end up wearing blacks, or greys, or pastels to work or university, make a brave choice. Choose instead a rich orange or a red or a green in the most ethnic attire you can fix. Wear a jewel or too, feel the happiness flooding you on Diwali. Next, gorge on sweet somethings. Stuff yourself with everything that will convince you, you’re well-fed, just like at home. The way to a happy heart, as a matter of fact, is through a happy stomach!

Gather your friends next. Tell them about Diwali if they don’t know yet and make them excited about it. Most do oblige. Take them to your shopping sprees, treat them to food, show them your clean room lit up with fairy lights and take pictures with them. Listen to popular Bollywood numbers, sing along aloud and play the ones they’ve perhaps listened to before. Play them on loop and teach them a desi step or two. Go to Bollywood nights with everyone you know and dance your heart to happiness – in fact you can do that this November, in three days’ time. LSE India Soc is hosting a very special Event, Diwali Dhamaka, on the 10th at the Saw Swee Hock Student Center from 10pm to 3am. Not only are we treated to our favourite choice of Bollywood music and Diwali sweets but also rehearsed dance performance, and from what I hear, some free alcohol for the first entrants.

And finally, make that Skype call and get the recipe to your father’s famed butter chicken curry. And when you’ve turned your mini kitchen upside down, with pots and pans flying all around, with spills and opened jars and strewn spices, an old familiar waft will come to you from the cooking pot and you’d know you’re once again, home.

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