Dear Women, Overworking Yourself During Diwali Defeats The Purpose Of Celebrations

Diwali preparations are the stuff of nightmares for the women of the house. While we all love the festival, you have to admit that they cause a separate level of anxiety among women, building up over months that precede the festivities. As a result of which, women often overwork themselves - because a celebration is not successful unless you are almost faint from exhaustion while executing it.

As soon as the Navratris begin women tie their dupatta around their waists, wield their jhadus and dusting cloth, and embark on a cleanup mission that would make Swaccha Bharat Abhiyan proud. But if you have been around your moms during this season, you'll know they can't stop fretting over deadlines that need to be met before Diwali day, and planning starts way ahead of the said festival.

Clean-up, new purchases, cooking snacks, adorning one's house with lights and garlands, ensuring that there are enough batis for all the oil lamps that need to be lit, making fresh rangoli every day, and even ensuring that everyone has their clothes sorted (bought/cleaned/ironed) before the big day.

Women do it all, but the worse part is, they refuse to trust other members of the family with even little things. Even if they put you in-charge of filling oil in the lamps to be lit on Diwali evening, be assured that a pair of eyes will be watching for every drop of oil dripping into the diyas, gasping and clucking when you overdo it and cause spillage.

The autopilot mode that most women go into around Diwali could also be the reason why most of them will feel the festival burnout in the coming few days. Cooking a simple meal for dinner, repacking the Diwali decorations etc., will feel like a Herculean task because there will be little to no energy left.

Diwali shouldn't be just about creating a memorable experience for the rest of the family. Remember that your enthusiastic participation in the festivities, and not in executing the chores around it, is what will make your family happier. Including your kids and husband in the preparation also conveys the message that you trust them with little and big duties.

So, while it is almost Diwali, it's not to late to delegate duties and ensure that you are around your loved ones for the fun stuff as well. Click tons of photos, play cards, engage in friendly banter and don't hold yourself accountable for every little aspect of the festival. This year, we have all earned a little time to unwind and fret less about creating picture-perfect moments, focussing more on living them instead.

Suggested Reading:

These Feel Good Films Are Perfect For A Family Time This Diwali

Crackers Or No Crackers: How Is Your Diwali Going To Be Like?

Ditch The Cracker, Eat An Extra Sweet: 5 Ways To Celebrate An Eco-Friendly Diwali

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