Freedom

 "Diwali pe Ram ji, Sita maiyya ko Raavan se mukt karwa ke, apne ghar Ayodhya laaye the..." explained my grandmother to all four of her grandkids, scattered in front of her on the floor as each awaited their turn for a bite of the delicious diwali food. 

It was a ritual in our home that "Daadi", would feed all of us during lunch from a single plate and narrate a story, usually something from our Hindu mythology. 

This story of Ramayana was perhaps our introduction to the concept of "freedom". Sita getting free from Raavan's oppression is celebrated with great fervor every year. 

My own definition of freedom during diwali kept evolving with time. It started with freedom of enjoying crackers and eating delicious foods as a child, freedom from studying for 3-4 days during school's diwali break, freedom from hostel life during college (though some might argue that hostels are the epitome of freedom during that age!) and freedom from work as I joined the corporate life. 

The phenomenon of "coming back home" from hostel or city of work to "the true home" (Delhi in my case) makes me resonate with this festival like none other. I have never seen happier faces at airport than just before Diwali. 

It is great to celebrate with abandon with your loved ones, once in a while and we should strive to create more such occassions in our lives. Perhaps this will bring a bit more "work-life balance" that we so desperately seek nowadays. 

The latest obsession for me, however, is financial freedom. I am sure to celebrate it with lamps, lights, food and the company of loved ones, the day I achieve it !!