It’s that time of the year, again. When the winds get a bit chilly and start carrying the smell of festivities, incense and delicacies.
Dussehra is here and it’s that time of the year which inevitably brings back the memories of childhood.
Of making Raavan effigies with cousins and friends.
And burning them later in the night.
Of going to the mela with parents.
And buying gada and swords that made us feel powerful and invincible for a few moments.
Of seeing the Raavan dahan.
And getting mesmerised by the magnitude of everything.
Of seeing the story of Ramayana being told for the 100th time.
And still finding it just as engaging.
Of sitting on the giant wheel.
And screaming our lungs out as it came down.
Of coming back home to delicious food.
After having lots at the mela itself.
Visiting mela after work, coordinating with friends to meet, wishing parents over the phone – Dussehra has changed for most of us now.
It no longer starts with aaloo-puri and kheer and you don’t get multiple holidays.
However, the spirit of Dussehra remains the same and just because we are busier now, doesn’t mean we should stop having fun.