Diwali Back Home

The preparations used to start a week before

with cleaning and dusting the home

the curtains would change to new ones

and the wooden chairs would turn into foam

Grown ups would start planning budget

for gifts and bonuses cause expense

but kids would be busy in planning some fun

because budget never made any sense

The kitchen used to get busy and messy

with the cooking of savory and sweet

cooking together was so joyful

and the idea was festive and neat

I remember looking at the lantern lit lanes

while walking and chatting with friends

there used to be only lights everywhere

till the place where the range of sight ends

Diwali involved rising very early

for detailed and special bath

early morning noise of fire crackers

and majestic diyas lit path

meeting with friends and family

exchanging sweets and gifts

all stress would just melt down 

and mood will have rather dramatic shifts

The world used to feel like one family

under the one big sky's dome

we subtly learned love and kindness

while celebrating Diwali back home!