Some days I miss being with my family in India during festivals. Simply because all my memories from celebration before migration came from the perspective of a being somebody’s daughter… not a mother.

My mother has always been super enthusiastic about every small event in life. And the universe always supported her with strength to see her plans through. She would wake up early, cook special dishes, make sure all her four kids were up and dressed, prayed and finally served them with the goodness of her cooking in the form of a feast. I don’t remember my parents ordering any food from restaurants. That was never in fashion some four decades ago. Hence all my memories stem from home made food.

But the world has changed since. Most women choose not to be housewives or cook anymore. Work of every sort can be outsourced. There is surrogacy and test tube babies too. And finding food during festivals happens to be one of those chores that have an easy way out. I must admit, I cater food too, when we have plenty of guests over. But there is always a touch of home. There is always some dish I like to cook from scratch because of the way I was brought up.

So yesterday, when we welcomed our lord Ganesha, I made sure I prepared every single dish at home from using traditional recipes. Simply because that is the only way I have known the festival. And that is the only way to feel satisfied. It is not a means to flaunt my culinary skills or give cooking goals to others or justify anything at all. This is just what makes me happy. Over the years, I have realised that cooking is like therapy. The food one cooks is crucial to their wellbeing. And if you are passionate about what you eat, the activity of preparing it can be immensely satisfying.

Especially, when it is able to recreate nostalgia that sowed the seeds of the meaning of celebration. N,ow when I look at celebration from the lens of a mother, I often hear my children say, “Today the house smells like Nani’s home!”

P.S. We are two days down and have the entire weekend to go… so yes, lots more cooking on the cards! And plenty of memories flowing back as I miss being home with my maternal family. The silver lining, at least, my house smells like that!