Dancing Diva

Casting a spell with her glowing beauty

with joy did she waltz and sway;

Golden was her aura

as she banished the dark away.

 

Dazzling like a diva

in the wind as she swirled;

her warmth and laughter radiant

made it seem a surreal world.

Picture is from Google images

The week that was- Delightful Deepavali

Deepavali or Diwali is one of the most eagerly anticipated festival among the many Indian festivals. It offers a little something for everyone. From fire-crackers for the young and restless to the traditional customs for the purists, from the wide array of treats that can tickle the taste-buds of all ages to fun and bonding time for families, from a new beginning to a homecoming , feel free to take your pick. The festival of lights sure lights up every heart in a special way.

The run-up to Deepavali is choc-a-bloc with activities-shopping for new clothes, cleaning and sprucing up homes, preparing an assortment of sweets and savories. There is something in the air that charges up even jaded souls in a magical way. The mind-blowing variety of lamps and the colorful rangolis that adorn many homes and decorated shopping centers all add up to an enchanting atmosphere.

This time around S and me celebrated a very special Deepavali - our first one after our wedding. We got to feel the festive air in a slightly different manner. The shopping malls all wore a festive look, courtesy Thanksgiving that is coming up next week. So there were sales going on in most stores which was accompanied by decorative lighting. It sure felt like Diwali. Thanks to DHL, we got our share of sweets and savories all the way from India. The local Indian stores also had clay diyas which we bought gladly and lit up our patio the traditional way. A simple puja at our home with special prayers of course and Seviyan Kheer for the festive flavor followed by Skype sessions with our parents for their blessings and a visit to the temple summed up our Deepavali celebrations. And what festival is complete without family and friends? The dinner get-together at a friend's place completed our Deepavali picture.


Picture is from Google images

Time-turner

"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise " is a quote that we have all grown up hearing our parents tell us. When we were schoolkids we all secretly wished to be allowed to stay up late and watch that interesting movie or cricket match till the end without being ordered off to bed early. Teenage rebellion followed by studying for the board exams all meant that this wish was granted but not in the manner that we had wished for... The odd New-year's eve that we were permitted to stay awake till the clock struck the 12 well past the "Cinderella hour" was a celebratory event in itself...The many sweet memories of childhood that I wish to relive all over again, soaking myself in those carefree joys...And then there are those many "I wish were forgettable" incidents which made you feel like turning back the clock and undoing the wrongs and setting things right... If only we could do that... In-fact of the many magical powers that were part of Harry potter's world I wished I had, the time-turner tops my list.

 

Last weekend for the first time I had my brush with time in a special way, it was the end of Daylight saving time. As Wiki will rightly enlighten you - " Daylight saving time (DST)—also summer time in several countries is the practice of advancing clocks so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less."Typically clocks are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and are adjusted backward in autumn.The phrase "Spring forward, Fall back" helps people remember how DST affects their clocks. Start and end dates vary with location and year. Beginning and ending dates are the reverse in the southern hemisphere." 

Confused hour hand :P

At my previous workplace back in India, this had meant that our meetings with our US counterparts would be rescheduled as per convenience of both the groups. This time however living here in the US of A  meant that on November 4th, we shifted our clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. local time. It felt very funny, it was like we were turning back time albeit only for an hour...We have to put it ahead by an hour in spring mind you, but until then we have turned back time :-P So there you are - although "Time and tide wait for no one", DST offered me the false sense of victory over time for a brief moment. Now if only I could lay my hands on a real time-turner...

Celebration!!

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 33; the thirty-third edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The theme for the month is 'Celebrations'

55 Fiction is a form of micro fiction that refers to the works of fiction limited to a maximum of fifty five words excluding the title.

People say I am bubbly. You see, after spending most of your life bottled up in a glass cage, it is natural to burst out with joy at the first opportunity you get to see the world, even if it means the countdown to your last few moments has begun...

"Freedom" definitely deserves a celebration!!

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People say I am enthusiastic. You see, after staying bundled up tight to brave the cold and often dark winter, it is natural to come out blooming and rejuvenated at the first opportunity you get to feel the sun's warmth, all the more when it means a new beginning...

"Fresh start" definitely leads to celebration!! 

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People say I am priceless. You see, after having stayed hidden deep within the mind fearing failure and heartbreak, it is natural to come out dazzling and eager to sow seeds of mirth all around at the first opportunity of victory, especially when it comes after back-breaking hardwork...

"Success" definitely calls for celebration!!

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People say I am heart-warming. You see, there is no point in just being cooped up within the heart fearing life and its offerings. Instead it is worth venturing out into the world with courage and relishing simple pleasures of life and unraveling joy all around...

"Spreading cheer" is the true definition of celebration!!

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All pictures are from Google images

Note: This post is made up of four 55-fictions, each of which looks at different facet of celebration.

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Introduced By: Sweta Tiwary, Participation Count: 1