9 nights of frolic

The festive spirit of "Navrati" begins today. Nine nights of fun, frolic, joy and colors! Yeah! Its amazing the way, our festivals have a significance. Each one for different purpose and holds a different religious significance. Though, things would have indeed been different had it been in India:( Thats what is something that saddens me..The difference in the festive celebrations.We are used to celebrating certian festivals in a certain way..thats the way we have always celebrated since we were children. You come to this country and the whole meaning of festival changes. Though the whole concept is to "come together and enjoy as one big family". Here, in the US, we always reserve our energy and postpone things for the weekend. Be it Ganpati celebrations, holi, diwali or navratri..they are observed only (usually) on the weekends. Isn't it funny, we had morning schools, colleges etc while we were in India, despite that we managed to stay up late only coz these 9 nights come only once a year. Only once a year, we could get the liberty of staying outside beyond the "curfew time":) Here, we have all sorts of liberties, even though we restrict our enjoyments for the better part of the weekend!! Have we become busier or have our attitudes changed?? Nevertheless, Navratri is sheer fun! What else would look grander than people shedding all their inhibtions, dancing to the spirit of dhols and of course! dandiya sticks!!