Diwali date announcement

DIWALI, the festival of lights, will be observed on November 6.

For decades, there has been confusion among north and south Indians, who observe Diwali or Deepavali, on which day the festival will officially be celebrated.

Tamilians observed the festival on the first day and the Hindi, Gujarati and Telugu-speaking communities the following day.

After consultation with various religious groups, it was decided that the day of observance would alternate annually between the south and north Indian dates.

It was also said that it would be up to the devotees to decide on which day they wanted to celebrate.

In a statement issued last week, the South African Hindu Maha, a national body representing the religious aspirations of South Africa’s Hindu community, stated that Diwali would this year follow the south Indian date of November 6.

“Deepavali/Diwali is spread over four or five days and contains several spiritual elements. The festival comprises five principle items spread over five days, namely praying for prosperity, the celebration of Vishnu’s victory over Narkasura, worship of Luxmi, victory of Vishnu over Bali and dice-play and the exchange of brotherly and sisterly affection.

“One is free to observe Deepavali on any of the five days.

NUTMEG, condensed milk, the distinct aroma of hot oil and the smell of rose syrup all trigger happy memories of the Diwali of my childhood.

My mother and her sisters would by day, and almost always well into the night, gather at my grandmother’s Chatsworth home to produce large quantities of their best bakes in round Tupperware tins. The items would be divided among them for trays to their respective neighbours, friends and family.

My grandmother held court.

And when the matriarch, now well into her 70s, decided she had “done her share” my mother picked up the baton.

The number of too brown date rolls I scoffed nonetheless expanded. And to this day, just the thought of gulaab jaan, straight out of the hot syrup and into my mouth, produces that taste on my tongue. Alas sisters emigrated, had grandchildren to care for or arthritis that made the great Indian Bake Off a near impossible feat.

Entering the networks of home bakers, samoosa aunties and the era of bought, thought is what counts.

As the third generation of this lineage, who has eaten more gulaab jaan than I could ever make, I should be frank that I’m not about to even try.

I love to bake with my children but I am certainly no baker. I also don’t see the practicality in so much sweets on one day.

My tactic is to give a “tray” so nice that the contents are disregarded. A keepsake if you will.

Cultural custodians will turn their noses up at us working mothers who blame both aspects of that role for the inability to do what was always done. But culture, by its, definition must change. My children and I have our own Diwali traditions. In many ways, their generation is about going back to basics. And before their appetite is an insatiable desire for knowledge.

Their generation may only ever know store bought Barfi but when they can read you the Ramayan instead, it doesn’t feel like traditions are disappearing.

It feels like they are evolving.

● Naidoo is national Family editor for Independent Media.