Most lovable yet cherished family event!

By Navya Sethi

A family event is where all the members of a family meet after a long time. It is an event filled with joy and enthusiasm. All the relatives meet their cousins, uncles, and aunts after a long period of separation. They share the savoury tales of the past and have a great time. They express their love towards their relatives and the atmosphere around them is filled with joy and happiness. They dance, sing, and have delicious food. They talk to each other about the current status of their lives. They share their pleasures and worries. 

I also attended a family event this year which was not much different from what I described above. It was planned by my aunt for my parent’s anniversary. It was a beautiful experience. 

During the second week of December, we had to go to our native place to attend a family wedding. Apparently, the wedding was a big disaster for us. However, I will not be talking about it. The event about which I am going to describe is my parents’ wedding anniversary. It was on 11th December. We usually celebrate my parents’ anniversary at our house, but the trip to our native place gave us a chance to celebrate it with a wider range of people. We reached my grandfather’s house on the same day as the anniversary. As we entered the house, we got to know that there was a whole party planned for my parents. 

 As soon as we reached there through the taxi and we stepped out, there was chaos inside and drums started playing. We then entered the house. The atmosphere inside was extremely enthusiastic. The living room was decorated with balloons. My 

aunt had called many of our relatives who lived nearby. So we met each one of them after a long time. Some of my father’s childhood friends and other relatives were also going to come. So three of us, me and my parents, got ready for the upcoming celebration. 

 The house was filled with joy and laughter. My parents too were enthusiastic after such a long time. This made me happy automatically. There was a pleasant atmosphere all over. As soon as the other uncles and aunts arrived, everyone was called to gather around the dining table. Yeah! Of course, it was cake cutting ceremony. It was a beautiful heart-shaped cake. As my parents cut the cake, an amazing song was played. After the cake-cutting, all the relatives one by one fed one small piece of cake to my parents. It was a perfect moment that demonstrated the love between the family members. Immediately, after the ceremony, my aunt brought two varmalas(garlands) from her room. Yeah! I knew what was coming up next. 

 My father was made to wear a safa on his head, traditionally worn during weddings. It looked great on him. It was the moment of taking his picture. I was put the in-charge of taking pictures of all the beautiful moments. I thought every moment was special, so I didn’t want to miss clicking the pictures of  anything. When my parents put the varmalas in each other’s  neck, we all flowered them with rose petals. It was a dazzling scene, seeing your parents getting remarried in front of you. 

The gifts always create a sense of gratitude, both to the sender and the receiver. So soon all the friends and relatives started giving gifts. Most of them gave money while one or two friends gave cozy blankets as gifts. My father even received a dashing 

green-blue hoody. The biggest surprise that my mom received for the day was the iPhone. It was gifted to her by my father. She wanted one for such a long time. This gifting ceremony gave a lot of pleasure to everyone. Soon everyone was lined for the photograph with the bride and the groom of the day. 

It was then the time for the grand dinner. All the elders sat together in the dining area, while the children sat on the floor  where carpet was spread out for them. The dish for the dinner  was “Tikkad and Aloo-ki-sabzi. It is a traditional dish of  Rajasthan. It was extremely delicious. Gathered around the  dining table, family members swapped tales of the past,  recounting anecdotes that ranged from hilarious to heartwarming moments. 

 As the dinner drew to a close, it was time to say goodbye to all our lovely guests. Promises to stay in touch were made and a sense of gratitude lingered in the air. This family event served as  a reminder that amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, it is crucial to pause and celebrate the ties that bind us. It made me realise that it is important to share all the happiness and sadness with your family. This year’s gathering left me with a heart full of gratitude for the unique and irreplaceable relations of my family.