Festivals serve as the punctuation marks in this ongoing narrative. Diwali, Eid, Pongal, or Christmas in India are not solitary observances but community affairs. The story of an Indian festival is one of labor and joy. It involves days of cleaning, shopping, and cooking. It is the sight of the whole family sitting on the floor to eat off banana leaves, a practice that equalizes everyone regardless of status. It is the collective lighting of lamps, the noise of crackers, and the sharing of sweets. These events reinforce the idea that life is best experienced in a crowd.
Dinner in an Indian household is a floating concept. It can happen at 8:00 PM or 10:30 PM. The menu is usually leftovers from lunch, but with a twist—yesterday’s sabzi is turned into today’s sandwich filling.