A Diwali - Home Away From Home - By Aires Rodrigues
Saturday - Nov 2, 2024
Diwali 2024 in London will be a memorable day to reminisce. Spent the festive day in Southall which is de facto the Indian heartland in London. Whilst strolling along the streets and not an Englishman in sight. Where have they all gone? I wondered. At Southall one feels one is walking around at Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, Lucknow’s Hazratganj or Linking road at Bandra in Bombay.
On the joyful day it was very heartening to visit Shree Ram Mandir, Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara and St. John’s Church. A Temple, a Gurdwara and a Church all located within a radius of just 20 metres. The icing on the cake was coming across the Royal Sweets shop, which incidentally was my very favourite haunt at Crawford Market and Bandra. In fact, last year while on a visit to Bombay, I was told that Royal Sweets had wound up its operations and moved to London. What a sweet coincidence to be able to savour on Diwali the delicacy of Royal Halwa after decades and that too all the way in England.
Besides being Diwali, 31st October this year was also Halloween which originated as an ancient Celtic festival and is fervently observed in the United Kingdom. The decorations in stores, houses and costumes are that of mythical monsters and pumpkins carved to make lanterns which is a common sight and children trick or treat in the evening. So, it was a mixed bag of celebration and an extraordinary day to remember.
Comments (2)
Alisha Da Cunha
Monday - Dec 9, 2024
We know who you are qpereira. It's been ages you ever commented on this site. OK. There are three more comments that will not be published as you have not used the proper language in your comments.
1) Have you seen this link, for three days it was on the main highlights since 3 December. https://www.nizgoenkar.com/newsDetails.php?id=759 and is still there in the Goa section.
2) Can you tell the readers WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR GOA? Your name is absolutely unheard. We do not need guts to publish things, but rubbish like yours without writing sensibly, we do not publish.
3) Before also you were always clashing with readers including the Editor. Just get in your head that we are not much interested in your challenges, as we have better things to do.
4) You can write against us you have the right to freedom to do so. But writing any nonsense will not help you. We need not respond to you.
5) Why are you in the UK since ages? Why not fight for Goa by being in Goa?
This comment is put up not because of your rubbish challenge but because you accused us over St. Francis Xavier without reading the Feast Day article.
pereira
Saturday - Dec 7, 2024
Even RAMA KANKONKAR does better than you for GOA. Shame on You, baptised by Saint FRANCIS XAVIER. PUBLISH IT IF YOU HAVE GUTS.