Diwali is one of the most loved festivals in India. Every year people decorate their homes, buy new clothes, make sweets and spend time with family. But have you ever noticed how Diwali feels different when you grow up?
As kids we mostly care about having fun. We wait for new clothes, eat our favourite sweets and get excited about decorating the house. We don't really think about how much work goes into making everything ready.
As adults things change a little. We start worrying about shopping, cleaning, expenses and gifts. The festival is still enjoyable but there are suddenly so many responsibilities.
It is funny how the same festival can feel so different at different ages. Here are some things that remind us of the difference between celebrating Diwali as a kid and celebrating it as an adult.
The Excitement Starts Days Before Diwali
As a kid:
Remember counting the days until Diwali? Even when the festival was still a week away we would keep talking about it. If our school holidays had started the excitement was even greater. We would ask our parents when they were going shopping, which sweets they were going to buy and when we could start decorating the house. Sometimes we would keep checking the calendar just to see how many days were left. The waiting itself was exciting.
As an adult:
The excitement often comes with a to-do list. There are clothes to buy, rooms to clean, gifts to arrange and several other things that somehow get left until the last minute.
Instead of asking how many days are left until Diwali, we might be asking how many days are left to finish everything. Still when the house is finally decorated and the lights are switched on that old excitement comes back for a little while.
Shopping Was More Fun When We Were Kids
As a kid:
Diwali shopping was one of the best parts of the festival. Going to the market with family felt so exciting. We would point at everything we liked and ask our parents to buy it. Getting a new outfit for the festival felt like a big event even if it was something simple. The best moment was getting new clothes and trying them on at home. Even if the outfit was simple it felt special because it was bought for Diwali.
As an adult:
Shopping becomes a little more complicated when you start paying for things yourself. You compare prices, check discounts and think twice before buying something. You might like five different outfits but end up choosing just one because you don't want to spend too much. Sometimes i think the best part of childhood shopping was that we didn't have to worry about the bill.
Cleaning the House Was Someone Else's Job
As a kid:
When Diwali cleaning started most of us tried to avoid getting involved. Our parents would ask us to clean our rooms or arrange our things and we would probably do it for a few minutes before getting distracted. We didn't understand why every cupboard needed to be checked or why so many things had to be moved around. We just wanted the cleaning to finish so the fun could begin.
As an adult:
The situation becomes completely different when we start helping with the preparations. One cupboard leads to another and suddenly we find old clothes, old decorations and things nobody has used for years. Cleaning takes longer than expected and there is always one more corner that needs more cleaning.
Still a clean home feels great during Diwali. We also begin to understand how much effort our parents put into getting everything ready each year.
Sweets Were More Important Than Anything Else
As a kid:
Diwali sweets were a big reason to get excited about the festival. Kaju katli, laddoos, gulab jamun, Gujiya and barfi were enough to make the festival exciting.
We would keep checking the sweet boxes and asking if we could have one more piece. Sometimes we were more interested in what was inside a gift box than in the gift itself. There was always that one sweet we loved the most and we would try to save it for later.
As an adult:
We still love sweets but now we think about other things too. We may try not to eat too much sugar or we might worry about having too many sweets at home. When guests are coming we also have to decide what to serve and how much to buy. But one thing hasn't changed. Eating our favourite Diwali sweet can still make us happy. Sometimes the taste alone is enough to remind us of childhood celebrations.
Firecrackers and Evening Fun
As a kid:
For many children fireworks and crackers were a major part of Diwali excitement. We would look forward to going outside in the evening watching colourful fireworks and spending time with friends. Even a simple sparkler could keep us entertained for a long time. Some children loved the louder crackers while others preferred the smaller ones. Everyone seemed to have their own favourites.
As an adult:
As we grow older we become more aware of the smoke, noise and waste caused by firecrackers. Some people still enjoy fireworks while others prefer a quieter celebration. We also start thinking about pets, young children and older people who may be disturbed by loud sounds.
Diwali can be enjoyed in many ways including lighting diyas, decorating the house or spending time with family. The important thing is to celebrate safely and consider the people around us.
Family Gatherings Feel Different Now
As a kid:
Family gatherings were mostly about having fun. Meeting cousins and playing games with them, running around the house and staying awake longer than usual.
We didn't need a special plan. Someone would suggest a game and everyone would join in. Even sitting together and talking seemed entertaining because there was always something happening. The adults would be busy with conversations and preparations while the children created their own little world.
As an adult:
Family gatherings can become more complicated when everyone has different schedules and responsibilities. Some relatives live in other cities, some have work, and others may not be able to visit every year. Getting everyone together can require more planning than it used to. But when the family finally sits together those old feelings often return. You start talking about childhood memories, laughing about silly things you did years ago and asking cousins what they are doing now. The best part of Diwali isn't the celebration itself but getting a chance to spend time with people you don't see regularly.
Gifts Become a Whole Different Story
As a kid:
Getting gifts was exciting because we rarely knew what we would receive. We would open boxes quickly look for our favourite things and sometimes compare gifts with our siblings or cousins. Even a small gift could make the day memorable because we were not thinking about its price.
As an adult:
Giving gifts becomes another part of the preparation. We have to decide what to buy for relatives, friends, neighbours and sometimes colleagues. It can be difficult to choose something suitable for everyone. There is also the pressure to find something nice without spending too much. A box of sweets, a handwritten card or something chosen according to the person's interests can be enough.
And honestly receiving a gift is still feel good at any age. We might act more mature about it but that doesn't mean we have stopped enjoying surprises.
We Start Understanding Our Parents Better
As a kid:
We often saw our parents busy during Diwali, but we didn't always understand why. They were shopping, cleaning, preparing food and making sure everything was ready and we were usually focused on enjoying the festival.
As an adult:
Once we start handling these responsibilities ourselves we understand things differently. We realise that making a festival special for everyone takes time, money and effort. There are many little things to remember and someone usually has to make sure they get done on time. We also begin noticing the things our parents did quietly every year without expecting much in return.
Final Thoughts
Growing up changes many things and the way we celebrate Diwali is one of them.
As children we looked forward to the sweets, clothes, lights and holidays. But as adults we often find ourselves managing the shopping, cleaning, expenses and preparations. But growing up also gives us a chance to understand our family better, appreciate old traditions and create new memories.
We may not get the same excitement from every little thing anymore but certain moments still feel familiar. The smell of sweets, the glow of diyas, the sound of family members laughing and the sight of a decorated home can bring back that childhood feeling. Maybe Diwali hasn't changed as much as we think, we have simply started seeing it from a different side. And no matter how old we get, there is still a little part of us that looks forward to Diwali just like we did when we were kids.
Anyway, a very Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating. Lots of love and light.
