Together on Diwali

*Pictures from http://www.finewallpaperes.com/

Mum and I had first seen the Rangoli design on television. It was a Diwali special of one of those Ekta Kapoor shows still in its prime – the sort you don’t get embarrassed from admitting being a viewer of. Since neither of us had any experience whatsoever with powder colours we had seen women deftly working with, we made another plan. Armed with water-proof poster paint and mighty paintbrushes, we made the courtyard our canvas. In a few hours, the floor was vibrant with a lovely rangoli. More permanent than the rest of the rather alarmed family had accounted for maybe.

That evening from years ago, we placed the largest deep we had right at the centre of the rangoli. As the sky glimmered with fireworks and the winds grew resplendent with kaju-barfi, our rangoli shone peacefully into the winter night.

Celebrating Republic Day in Style: An “Aga Khan Palace” Picture Journey

Pinky walked in through Aga Khan Palace’s large, castle-like gate, holding on excitedly to her Mamma’s hand. Dadi couldn’t come because she was away in Delhi but Pinky had called her up that morning.

“We are going to Aga Khan Palace dadi! A real palace can you believe!”

“Oh my.” Dadi had been excited too. “I am sure it will be great. Remember to thank Aga Khan IV dear for it is he who gifted the palace to Gandhiji.”

“Sure dadi. Wish you could have come too!” she said before disconnecting the call.