A big HAPPY DIWALI from the Phoenix Home
Wont post the pic of the “AFTER DIWALI BASH”
Some pics of the much maligned candles and toran from the Phoenix House 
DIL WAITING FOR THE MOON ON KARVA CHOUTH
Happy Diwali all
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Tag Archives: Festivals
The Classic Diwali Syndrome
(I think this describes the situation in most households around Diwali/Pooja/Christmas etc. ….)
Early morning Lady of the House picks up the newspaper, discards everything apart from the pages advertising Sales, Schemes etc etc and either gets on the phone with her friends or starts planning the route to be taken with her sister/daughter etc.
Man of the house comes into the room, blearily picks up the remainder of the newspaper and his tea and tries to join in the conversation ….
M.O.H. : So what are you planning to buy today?
L.O.H. : Just some diwali things, you know, candles and toran …
M.O.H. : (Trying to be helpful) I’ll ring up Rakesh Seth and he will send them over
L.O.H. : Looking balefully : Naah, I promised (insert saheli’s name) that we would go together.
M.O.H. : Oh I see
L.O.H. : In a tone as sweet as honey : You dont mind do you? I packed your lunch, and we will order something in the night if I am late
M.O.H. : Knowing not to open his mouth to wonder why candles and toran will take the whole day : Its okay dear ……
Its the time women rule. We shop, we bargain, we hunt for deals, and fall prey to all the buy this and get that cheaper schemes
I’ve also noticed one thing …
If we live in North Delhi – we want stuff from South Delhi or Noida or Gurgaon
Somehow the malls and the deals on the other side of town seem so much more alluring.
I love to shop at Gurgaon or Delhi – I think the petrol I burn adds to the fun of shopping
Noida will do too – but definite not my town
Even though in these days of Malls, everything is available in each and every mall, all the brands, all the schemes.
Dont ask a female to explain. It is just the way it is
Then we come back home laden with goods. We go with lists of course, and come back with everything not on the dratted list.
In the evening the men of the house dutifully help us unload the packages from the car, while we come home happy and tired after blowing up far more money than we ought to, happy to share all the details of the fantastic deals and the money we saved on our spree
M.O.H. : Oh did you get the candles and toran
W.O.H. : (Without batting an eyelid!) Naaah, we’re going for that tommorow ….
HAPPY DIWALI
Karva Chowth at Phoenix House
I am very ambivalent about karva chowth and I wrote a post last year stating my reasons which readers found hilarious. Well I am like that anyways …. 
My kids want to celebrate each and every festival with gusto, even the all female ones like karva chowth. I would doll up, do the mehendi, new dress and bangles and trinkets thingy, and then we would eat drink and be merry. Now I have happily handed over baton to DIL
I’ve told DIL she has the option to do away with the fast if she wishes. Its cool with us …
Flashback two days ago ………………………..
Kid#2 : Mom are you gonna get mehendi and stuff done?
Me : Reclining on my bed with laptop : Nah, I have done away with peripherals
Kid#2 : Why????
Me ; Astonished at such a strong reaction : I never keep the fast anyway, and am not in the mood for dolling up
Kid#2 : Launching full blown drama : You never do anything, you are not fun anymore, festivals dont feel like festivals when Bhai isnt around ………………….
Me : ??????!!!!!!!???????
Then Godji sent inspiration (Thank you Godji Phewww!)
Me : Beta Bhabhi will do all that, its her time
DIL came home dancing : See my new suit that I bought for Karva Chowth! Isnt it pretty? Kid#2 you better be home on Karva Chowth eve since you gotta take me to get mehendi done
Kid#2 : Looking much happier : Jee Bhabhi, do you also want to go to the parlour? I am so glad someone is celebrating! (The last said snidely)
DIL : After consideration : Nah parlour will be too full, besides I’ll be working full day
Me : Heaving a quiet sigh of relief : Beta, tell me what you wanna eat for sargi, I’ll cook that.
Both of them seriously discussing possible options for the early morning sargi
I never knew handing over all the stuff was so liberating!!!!
She can do the mehendi and dress and fast if she so desires!
I AM OUT OF IT!!!!
We had sargi together at 5 a.m. which I cooked early in the morning. Kid#2′s craving for some festival celebration got satisfied, DIL and I left for work! I think I narrowly escaped the dog house!!!