This month began with the celebrations of the Diwali festival. Beyond lights, diyas, sweets, fireworks and soan papdi, there is more to Diwali especially in Maharashtra. Diwali here has a cultural side to it too, major part of which is the very famous 'Diwali Pahat(Morning)' shows and Diwali Ank (Diwali special magazines). We've heard about the 'morning shows' around the world but these are live shows that happen only during Diwali. Diwali Pahat includes singers and musicians performing live early in the morning, it could be poets reciting their poems or drama groups performing their play. Waking up early in Diwali is a part of it's celebration and then spending that time doing what you love to do might be one of the reasons behind these morning shows! So musically inclined people go for music concerts, drama loving people go to watch plays, people even watch their favorite movies during Diwali, but what about those who love to read books?
Well this time around my question was answered, I had applied to be a part of Bombay Bookies, a reading community. I had applied in the last week of October but due to many registrations I wasn't called then, so I thought I will refill the form after Diwali. But they called in the week of Diwali and it was Diwali Padwa that day, I thought whether I should go or not, after contemplating for some while I decided I was going. Next day I woke up quite early, got ready like the audience got ready to experience 'Diwali Pahat', and took 6:35 am local to CST. Seeing the most mesmerizing sunrise on the Vashi Creek, it almost felt like the sun rays were doing their 'abhyang snan'(sacred ritual observed during Diwali, symbolizing spiritual cleansing and renewal).
Reaching the station, a fellow reading community met us on the way and guided us to the park. To reach there we took a double decker A/C bus, it was my first time in a bus like that and looking at Mumbai from the large windows of the deck was just another adventure! Got down, walked a bit, lost our way but then found it and finally made it to the park. At the entrance there was a huge lantern made out of all sorts of plastic bottles, one of the best, best out of waste I had seen so far.
And then I entered a space where I felt I belonged. It was a gazebo in the center and circular steps around the gazebo where around 200 readers sat and read their books. Wrote my name, got the bookmark and found myself a place on one of the stairs and sat down. Initially it was uncomfortable with no backrest and grass below but with time everything fell in place and I began reading. The birds chirping in the background was the perfect background score, with some dogs barking once in a while but not disturbing any reader, one of them even sat in between readers as if giving company. Then I got so engrossed in the book that I was reading, that it almost felt like meditation. The best part was when a particular chapter ended, I just looked up from my book and saw 200 people lost in their respective books, genres and stories and that fueled me to read even more. I had read that book on the train, at home, but the experience of reading with so many readers was altogether different and enriching in many ways.
After the reading time was over, everyone was asked to keep their books in stacks, that is when I thought I should write my name on the book so that I can find it later, and that little act of writing my name on the book took me back to school days when we used to write our name on all the books, it's strange how with time we just stop doing these little things that used to be a ritual back in school days! And then all the readers gathered around for a photo, followed by talking with fellow bookies regarding books. The next highlight was the bun maska, me and my sister enjoyed a little chat over bun maska and tea and called it a day! Generally in other 'Diwali Pahat' programs everyone listens to the same song or poem or watch the same play or movie, but here we had the freedom to read what we like along with other fellow readers. This was 'My Kind of Diwali Pahat' where I did what I enjoy the most, reading a book on a Diwali Padwa Morning!
Happy Reading,
Siddhi Bhosale.
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