Diwali is all about celebrating with the family and now after Ekbir, it has become more special,” say Mohit Malik and his wife Addite Shirwaiker Malik, who were blessed with a baby boy on April 27. The couple has elaborate plans to light diyas, prepare sumptuous dishes and celebrate the five days with family and friends at home. Mohit says, “After Addite’s father passed away a few months back, my mother-in-law moved in with us. That’s the best thing to have happened to us because it is great to have a grandparent play with their grandchild and explain to us all the traditions and rituals during Diwali.”
Talking about the festival, Mohit says, “It is very difficult to find traditional clothes for a baby, but my designer friend has designed a dress for Ekbir. Three of us will colour-coordinate... it will either be yellow or red clothes for us. We will do Lakshmi puja at home. Now, Ekbir has started eating a bit, so we will prepare kheer with jaggery and try to get him to taste that. After 10 years, we have been blessed with a child and we are all so happy. I also feel it is important to inculcate good values and teach him to not nurse grudges against anyone.”
Mohit shares his wishlist for Diwali. He says, “My wishlist entails doing well professionally, enjoying fatherhood with my little one and praying for good health.”
Ask Addite about what is it about Diwali that she looks forward to, and she says, “We enjoy doing up the entire house with diyas, and with Ekbir, the occasion has become more festive. The way he smiles and jumps on me when I am around is overwhelming, something I have never experienced before. I feel that with diyas and lights around, all negativity vanishes and I hope that everyone’s homes keep illuminating like this forever. This Diwali is even more special as it is our son’s first. Ekbir enjoyed the Ganpati festival and doing aartis with us and now he will enjoy Diwali, too.”
