Happy Dussera!

The last time I enjoyed dussera was more than 16 yrs back. We lived in Delhi back then. The days spanning the navratri to dussera till diwali spelled festivities, kanjak, colorful attire, sweets, firecrackers (and of course pollution). Diwalis especially used to be a nightmare for those allergic to smog (smoke+fog).
This used to be the Ramayana review time. Every kindergartner knew that the good prevailed over evil! That Ravana had 10 heads, he had a  giant brother who was lucky enough to sleep as he liked and eat as he liked and who did both generously, were favourite part of the tales. (It took adulthood to realise that such tastes could be maintained only in mythologies)
There used to be huge open grounds or parks (if they were properly maintained) which were the sites for ravana-dehen. People in hundreds and thousands would turn up by evening to see tall effigies of Raavan (and Kumbhkarana and Vibhishan) being burned. Dressed in mythological combat or sometimes, regal style  the trio would be put up. Stuffed with a lot of firecrackers and sprayed with flammable substances, a spark was enough to burn the king of Lanka. A dressed up Lord Ram from the gathering would aim and shoot the burning arrow. Thus burned Ravan! What a sight that was! And the crowd clapped and jeered and laughed and loved it all!

Fast forward 16 yrs. I am in Kerala. It's after a huge gap that I am enjoying dussera again. But far from the goodness and evilness it is the emptiness that I have begun enjoying. A Monday Navratri and a Tuesday Dussera ensured that a lot of good planners (obviously I am not one of them) went vacationing. That means lesser people, lesser vehicles, lesser traffic!! ... vroooom time!!
Lots of empty parking slots.. Which meant I didn't have to stay stuck trying to park without a scratch here and there...and to top it all it rained!! Wow!!
If only I could get something to burn as well!

Happy Dussera people! May the evil in you be defeated by the goodness in you!

#childhoodMemories