Ruchira reminisces that India’s grand festival season brings joy and chaos—when celebrations begin, domestic help vanish, and households tumble into temporary turmoil, for Different Truths.
With the advent of the annual fiesta season (as well as the occasional events during other parts of the year), the hearts of most householders (read: homemakers) are filled with dread. All categories of domestic help or caregivers will proceed on leave, heading to their gaon to join their loved ones for the celebrations. As the kaamwali/wala industry is highly unorganised and lacks specific rules and regulations, leaves can extend from two to three days to even a week or a fortnight.
Consider Holi, the riotous festival of colours which ushers in the Spring season. This simple occasion is now saddled with several denominations, e.g., laddoo holi, lathh maar holi, gobar (cowdung) holi, not forgetting the dry gulal or dry powder holi, followed by the geeli or pani wala holi. Naturally, the menials would expect seven to ten days.
My very considerate help Maya, takes only two days, claiming she has neither the enthusiasm nor the taste to be involved in prolonged celebrations.
However, the safai karmachari of our housing complex leave en masse as a result, garbage begins to pile up, and gutters begin to stink. Interestingly, the moment they resume their duties, they come round to claim their bakshish.
Let me cite a classic example when enjoyment takes precedence over profession and duty. It was the first quarter of the Covid year (2021). The refrigerator at home suddenly stopped functioning. We contacted the mechanic Tarachand, who regularly handled the repairs. But he was out of town for Holi festivities at his home in Brij Bhumi. After Holi got over, we rang up again only to be told that he had gone to a wedding! The date of return was uncertain. Then, out of the blue, Covid exploded in its virulent form. Moreover, mobility was already hampered by the lockdown. To cut a long story short, through the gruelling summer we survived without even a single drop of cold water!
During the two Eids, a good number of carpenters and tailors suddenly vanished into thin air. Many a time, my blouses were left unstitched, a small table needing repairs was left midway, and a bookcase was left incomplete till their return.
During the Navratri festival, which occurs twice a year, fruits dominate the scenario while ubiquitous vegetables literary disappear from the shelves and carts; why? Because the devout live only on fruits and potatoes, and flours (chiefly buckwheat or water chestnut). That’s fine, but what about the non-fasters? Does anyone spare a thought about what to put on their plates?
Things get even more complicated during the festival of lights. The markets and shops burst their seams with humongous quantities of sweetmeat and other confectionery. Unfortunately, for those who are not so fond of sweets, savouries and namkeens. Chole-bhature, kulcha, samosa, kachori, and bread pakoras are nowhere to be found.
If you are lucky, you might be able to procure bags of chanachur (potpourri)and potato chips, perhaps.
The housemaids also have their fair share of Vrats for which they need to take leave, which consequently turns the households topsy-turvy. There is Hoi, four days after Karva Chouth, when all doting moms fast and pray for the longevity of their progeny. Incidentally, Karva Chauth is another major occasion to take leave. As is common knowledge, the wives dedicate the entire day to fasting and praying for their husbands’ longevity.
One must also mention Kanchak organised on Ashtami, the eighth day of Navaratri. Eight pre-puberty girls and one boy are worshipped and feted. So, maids have a compulsory chhutti on these two days.
Our presswallah follows an annual ritual: every year in the month of Vaisakh, he takes off with his family to his native village to observe Akshay Tritiya – the auspicious day when random weddings take place. He reports that each year, it is either a niece or a daughter getting married. Having collected all outstanding dues, he vanishes for weeks together. The fallout of this is that we must fall back on the electric iron we have at home. The outcome is often sloppy since we are not professionals.
Diwali arrives in the last quarter of the year with its distinct paraphernalia. The day after Diwali is Goverdhan pooja (aka Ayudha pooja), where all categories of implements, instruments, machinery, tools, kits, and gadgets are not to be touched by way of showing respect and offering respite. The following day, bhai phonta or bhai dooj, there ensues mass casual leaves or short leaves for all working individuals. Alongside, the price of gooey goodies skyrocketed for just one day. Be it fruits, sweets or stylish /fancy gift items.
That reminds me of another similar occasion when prices become unbalanced. In May-June, Jamai Shashthi is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Bengalis. On this occasion, quintessential, obedient docile jamais (sons-in-law) make a beeline to their sasurbari (maiden homes) where the gracious matronly ladies dish up sumptuous feasts for them. It is a common phenomenon among the ladies to outsmart each other in serving exotic dishes to their “precious gems”.
Honestly, I harbour no grudge or malice against such festivities and merrymaking. My only contention is that things should be a little more orchestrated and organised instead of such mad frenzy, so that no inconvenience is caused to anyone.
Picture design by Anumita Roy
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Thoughtful!