In the days of joint families, grandmothers would stand guard jealously over the ingredients for delicacies that were getting ready for the festive preparations, supervise the actual preparations to the last detail until the yummy sweets were first offered to the deities and then finally given for tasting to the family. Oh! And that lovely all pervading aroma of fresh ghee.. all disappeared what with lifestyle diseases having taken over our existence! And where has all the tradition gone? Where is all that hustle and bustle that used to accompany all the major festivals, with the house teeming with friends and relatives?

Modern families

With both husband and wife out at work, children in the creche or at school and no one at home, there is no air of excitement or anticipation any more. Even buying of new clothes is more a ritual that has to be got through with so that the family is at least not in want of the finery that accompanies festivals. "My mom is too busy! She comes home so late in the evenings. I am with nanny who stays with me till she comes home!" says little Panya of Bangalore who has never had the luxury of having both her parents home early during week days. And what about Diwali sweets? "Oh! We get them from the shop. Mummy takes me to choose what I want. She doesn't make anything at home 'coz she has no time! But sometimes Grandma sends yummy things if Daddy goes to visit her in Bombay."

Sadly, home made sweets are fast becoming a thing of the past. Modern women do not have the time to and soon they will also lack the knowledge to prepare them. They find it far easier to pick up traditional sweets from the nearest shop rather than undergo the hassle of making hem at home. What with having so many roles to play, they have absolutely no patience for attending to these things. "I would love to try out these preparations. In fact I have all the recipes handed over to my mom by my grandmother. But where is the time?" laments Trishna, a young working mother of two kids.

There is also the attitude of professional women who seem to think that such traditions of making sweets at home should only be followed by uneducated housewives who have nothing better to do than cooking the whole day. Our traditions, values and lifestyles have all changed over the years. Other things have gained in importance over family traditions and instant foods have since taken the place of home made delicacies.

The happiest are the sweet shop owners who are laughing all the way to the bank as they are catering to those who want to but do not have the time or skill to prepare traditional sweets during the festivals. So if you are one of those still enjoying delicious home made stuff, you may count yourself as one of the few lucky, blessed ones!

Post Comment

Name : Email : Password : Comments :