In the old days it used to be that if ever there was a birthday or function in the family, one would invite all the kids in the building compound, all the uncles and aunties that are friends with mom and dad and a ton of relatives.
These will all stand around chit chatting till it's time to cut the cake. A nice cake (most probably from Monginis) would be cut and everyone would sing "Happy Birthday" (sucking in the saliva threatening to burst out).
Paper plates with a piece of the cake, potato chips and an aloo tikki would be passed around till everyone is quietly munching away. Plastic cups of Rasna orange squash would also be handed out. After making a mess of the place and maybe a small fight or two, the people would all troop off to their homes leaving the birthday girl or boy to open up the small presents (if any).
These days there are event managers to arrange stuff like this. Large auditoriums are booked. Magicians and clowns are hired. There are group games and return gifts. Custom made chocolates in the shape of animals are distributed in addition to a ton of other goodies. Yet doesn't all this leave one with a sense of loneliness and emptiness?
Maybe I am wrong. Nostalgia tends to come equipped with rose-tinted glasses.
6 comments:
It is not just Nostalgia, it is also about keeping it simple and uncomplicated.
I agree...simplicity is apparently a thing of the past...and I don't like that one bit. Then, the focus was on connecting with each other. Now it is about 'stuff' - who gives what to whom.
What might look simple to us is not so simple to our parents' generation. My mom didn't even know her real birth date until much later coz her birth certificate had been doctored to send her to school early. There were absolutely no celebrations except maybe one went to a temple and prayed.
i used to have have a birthday party at home where the boys played cricket in the society compound and the girls were completely ignored. then we went home and everyone sang happy birthday and i cut the cake and everyone was served cake, samosa, wafer and such other eats in paper plates. #thosewerethedays
The girls enjoyed themselves nevertheless watching the boys behaving like monkeys :)
i totally agree, i have been ranting and raving about this fact wth my hubby. I am so glad someone thinks like that too. I agree seema, life has become way too noisy way too lonely.
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