Our First Advent: A Simple Path to a More Meaningful Christmas

Brass crucifix illuminated by the warm glow of a candle

My alarm goes off at 5:00 AM, then 5:30, 5:40, and one last time at 5:45 AM. Then, I tell myself, "it is now or never, so just get the hell up and do what you have to, even when it feels like you can't." 

In the living room, I am greeted by strong, cold winds and whispers seeping in through the darkness. Winter is here, the days are shorter, the nights are long. The dark nights do not let the days out very early, suffocating them for as long as they can. I tighten my woollen shrug and drown my palms in its pockets. I close a window or two and hear the cries of community dogs, cold and hungry in the night, with nobody to call their own. Outside, on the dimly lit, misty street, I see milkmen on bicycles and milk vans lining up to do their daily duties - delivering the daily bread, milk, and other life essentials for sustenance for the old, for the young. 

The tea is brewing on the stove in my dimly lit kitchen. I pick up my mobile phone and play the chants of Lord Ganesh - my favourite God, who brings back so many childhood memories of times spent in his worship when he used to visit my maternal grandparents' house. My grandparents are no longer with us, but their legacy endures. Now, those moments play in my mind. With age, I find them becoming blurry, and I worry that one day, they might be erased from my mind completely. I dread that. We all need that one escape from reality. Imagine life without it. What is life, then? Survival mode. 

Having said that, we are always taught to look on the brighter side of things; to take things in our stride, make compromises and adjust, because there are so many people in circumstances worse than our own; we must think about them and draw our courage to go on in life, no matter how impossible it seems. And, therefore, we ought to be happy. 

That is the dark and gloomy stuff. Let us change our mood a little bit.

Alas! Winter is here, and so is the time for the season to be jolly. Soon, I will curl up on the couch with my daughter and watch our favourite Christmas movies together. We will decorate our real Christmas tree with fairy lights, angels, stars, and other glossy knick-knacks. 

This year, I have pledged to make this Christmas count. Being a non-Christian, but a believer in all faiths, I find that Christmas celebrations are cliched - the Christmas tree, the decorations, the lights, the sweets, the ubiquitous 'funfair' in residential societies, mega sales, grand Christmas tree installations in malls, a Santa Claus in playschools, that render this deep and profound occasion as a hyper-commercialised commodity. But what is the true meaning and spirit of Christmas? 

Monochrome image of a crucifix highlighted by gentle contrasts of light and shadow.

It lies in the tolling of the Church bells, in the families and community that pray, sing carols, and laugh together. It lies in the joy of giving and sharing, not just feasting on mulled wine and divine cake.

So, that is Christmas for you. However, I always wondered when exactly we begin preparing for Christmas. Is it 5 days before the birth of the baby Jesus? 10 days? 15 days? I really didn't know. And this surprised me, for Christmas is one of my favourite festivals after Ganpati.

Google, my old friend, says that Christmas preparations start on the first day of Advent, which begins 25 days before Christmas Day. And thus began my journey of exploring Advent, its significance, and what it symbolises. When I discovered more, I regretted not having known about it earlier. Advent is the start of the preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. It includes a simple yet wholesome ritual of lighting a candle each Sunday until Christmas Day in the centre of a wreath with holly leaves; one can add other decorations too, as there are no limitations - belief is what counts the most. 

The first two candles are a deep, rich purple, signifying Hope and Faith. The third and fourth candles are pink and purple (again), representing Joy and Peace. The final candle is the white Christ Candle, which is to be lit on his day of birth.

Lit purple Advent candle glowing softly against a wreath decorated with fairy lights.

I began my observance of Advent today, sharing some glimpses of the setup - nothing too jazzy, loud, or fancy, just sincere. An artificial wreath and green fairy lights, in a blessed home filled with contentment and happiness. A home where children's laughter echoes, where the aroma of Sunday's cooking made with love and patience drifts through. A home that rests when tired, nourishes and nurtures, and keeps us safe. 

Sundays are perfect to keep my daughter busy and screen-free. She bribed her closest friends with cake to help her decorate the Christmas tree and make Santa Claus from sugar fondant, thanks to her grandmother, a celebrated baker and food creator! Board games and mischief followed, and goodbyes concluded the day. It was indeed a wonderful First Sunday of Advent. So much better than taking the children to a mall, where they become mere consumers. They learned so much right here in the heart of home, and so did I. 

Happy Advent! Until I write again.

Warmly lit corner of a living room decorated for the Advent season.

      

A busy dining table with fondant-making tools, food colours, etc.

                

Handmade fondant Santa Claus decorations displayed on a plate, created by children

Documenting The Street: A Personal Photography Project

After spending 10 beautiful years in Ahmedabad, finally, I feel that the city has accepted me and vice versa. The city of Ahmedabad amazes me. On one hand, it is growing and urbanising at breakneck speed. On the other, it preserves its centuries-old culture, traditions, and heritage so wonderfully. It is no surprise that is is named as a World Heritage City by the UNESCO and India's first heritage city! Proud moment for us 'Amdavadis'.

Being a working mother, getting time solely for yourself is something of a rarity. This may sound like an exaggeration, but my fellow mothers know what I'm talking about. This makes all the more harder for a solo trip enthusiast like myself! However, determination and a strong will can move mountains.

One fine day, I found myself walking through the narrow lanes of old Ahmedabad, asking directions, to strangers standing besides cracked walls and houses dating back many decades, to get to French Haveli - a recently restored 150-year-old heritage home.

          

French Haveli is situated in one of the ‘pols’ - gated communities existing since medieval times. These pols consist of residential structures three storeys-tall, with intricate carvings superimposed on their splendid exteriors, their architecture is intelligent and thoughtful. The central courtyard allows plenty of sunlight to enter the home yet keeps the rooms and corners cool under the blazing Gujarat sun. Heritage houses in the pols have entrances that open to a beautiful courtyard looking up at the sky.

On Saturday morning, I took the Heritage Walk tour through the Old City visiting temples, mosques, Jain derasars, tombs of kings and queens, a secret passageway, a dead poet’s home, multicoloured bird feeders, charming old homes, a famous alley lined up with bookshops, tea stalls, lemonade carts, and other captivating sights and sounds. The next day was spent mingling in the vibrant ‘Ravivari Bazaar’ (Sunday Bazaar) also known as ‘Gujri Bazaar’ (gujri meaning used or second hand).

The Ravivari Bazaar can easily be described as a chaotic mosaic of people, objects and experiences, that enrapture the viewer. Both sides of the winding street that stretch to the banks of the river Sabarmati walk us through a multicoloured tapestry richly woven with sights, sounds, smells, people and objects.

A kaleidoscope of colours tantalizes the senses by means of odd wares ranging from screwdrivers and tacks to antiques such as dialup telephones in red and black, glistening golden gramophones, abandoned typewriters, silver kettles, radios and polaroid cameras. As I walk on, I pass by vibrant displays of dry fruits, sherbet (lemonade), ice lollies, candy floss, sweetmeats, pickled tamarind, pan (betel leaf) and much more that add to this colour burst.

But the hallmark of this cultural sojourn were the the people whose warmth and authenticity struck a chord with my heart. I had the privilege to sit down with them, request them to pose for me and chat them up, and they happily obliged.

On display were scenes that tantalise the senses as they experience the wholesome, rugged, earthy, raw, authentic, dark, sweaty, real beauty of the one big human family. In the midst of all this chaos emerged unexpected warmth, curiosity, human emotions, connections and bonds. A sense of community, close-knit, committed to making the Gujri Market happen and continuing it decade after decade.

I captured these images with one objective in mind:

The street offers a myriad of elements that are important to document and make visible. They deserve to be valued for the incredible vibrancy and colour they contribute to the cultural landscape and social fabric. The aesthetic of the regular and the ordinary people on the street is natural, effortless and thus, fascinating. The people and their environment, the street, are unique, earthy and authentic. I scooted through the length and breadth of the 'Raviwari Market' or Sunday bazaar - a chaotic mosaic of people, scents, objects, community and drama. The market is a decades-old tradition that remains alive, thriving and constantly evolving - a very ecosystem in itself.

Intimate Rituals

Getting "me-time" or time for self love and care is a rarity. On the very rare occasion, when I do get the time to indulge myself in just "being", I often sit at my modestly decorated and cozy desk in my home office. Fragrant candles accompanied by a dim lamp cast a warm glow around the room illuminating spiritual objects, works of art, handmade baskets and, of course, my books. All these characters on the stage, that is my desk, lend a beautiful and wholesome aura to my space.

Today being a Sunday, I started preparing for my weekly intimate ritual around 4 PM. This is the time when I'm all by myself stirring tea or coffee not because I crave it, but because it completes my ritual. The very sight of a piping hot cup of tea or a mug of coffee resting on my desk, while the sounds of thunder and rain play in my ASMR playlist, create an atmosphere that inspires me as an author, writer and thinker. The whole setup almost feels like a writer's retreat in an old cottage nestled away in the dark mountains while the monsoon rages away, and all one can do is simply write in the warmth and the chaos.

Today's intimate ritual also included the burning of juniper leaves sent to me, all the way from North India, by a kind woman who runs a collective promoting women small business owners. They make pickles and marmalades, source the best seabuckthorn fruits and barley coffee. The eco-friendly packaging read, "You are making an impact"and the juniper leaves were sent to me as a gift for being kind and honest. Indeed, karma pays forward. I was asked to burn the juniper leaves to usher out negativity. As I lit the juniper leaves with the flame of my candle, they crackled and burst emanating a fragrant and calming smoke much like the 'dhoop' or incense we utilise for our daily worship. 

I walked around my house barefoot carrying a bowl with the smoky juniper leaves, while the candles burned in my imaginary cottage, and the rain and thunder reached a crescendo signalling the success of my intimate ritual.