Wish you all a very happy Deepavali people! Today's post is dedicated to all those Deepavali mornings we all looked forward to as tiny tots. :D . . . Those were the days when Amma shook me awake In the wee hours of dawn Chiding my groaning on a festive morning Appa tickling me to death until I kick and scream but give up and wake up to the cacophonous chaos of crackers bursting Lakshmis booming in the background, 1000 walas mocking redforts for their insipid blasts, Atom bombs resounding And flashes of matthapu lingering lighting up the dawn of Deepavali. My sleepy eyes struggles to stay ajar While Amma furiously rubs tepid nalla ennai on my scalp, tempered with pepper and cumin The spices work their magic and the oil action finally jerks me to consciousness Paati paints a blood red line around my feet and toes, Nalangu I was told. A steamy bath ensues and I deck myself up in my crisp silk pavadai. Now, Deepavali is a day before my deadline. But the crimson lines painted on my feet, painted by atthai took me to a time when A little girl anxiously waited , counted the hours till evening For a house to be filled with cousins and crackers. . . #happydeepavali #indigenousindia #nostalgia #festivalsofindia #poetrygram #poetrychallenge #shypoet #poetsofinstagram #poetrycommunity #writersofinstagram #writer #30poemsin30days #30daysofpoetry #lifepoetry #loveforpoetry #octoberpoetrychallenge #octoberpoetry #octoberflc #poetry #poet #inspiration