Yesterday was lagachi parab. The day when the famous food item of hittu and ghashi were made. I don’t remember anything special for this day apart from the making of leaf baskets, the tutorial which was given by Appa. One of the rare interactions with him, of sharing his knowledge and skills through the actions and not through talks. 

The affinity towards religion has come down over the years when I felt the rituals are done too much and with too many restraints. I guess I started questioning God won’t like me for my skills (because of my imperfections even if I tried my best) so what use of makhan lagaana. Once I came out of the well, I see the pattern repeating everywhere. In all religions. 

Then I thought let’s use the religion bahaana for the get together like Navratri but the narrow mindedness and judgemental eyes kept shunning the people who didn’t celebrated any Pooja or rituals. So it became a give and take and I never liked giving. Whats there to give, from my empty basket? I am too shy to offer. And I lamented again at myself for not creating that environment for the new generation I was raising. Like being over protective which, is also not good for her. Will I be able to digest if in future, she went in search of that path I left behind? I remember craving for dandiya nights or holi bash or Diwali parties with family as I never attended those. But instead we attended many other functions which indirectly gave me hints on what made religious beliefs so attractive to the men and women in the community that followed them. 

So maybe even if I miss out giving experiences to her, she maybe learning something else. We never know how each child picks up and how from their surroundings. All we can teach is to have a good kind heart, which is the same in all religions, though people often misinterpret it as usual.