The Art of Being Curious — A Studio Damini Journal
Some celebrations end. Their joy stays with us.
Have you ever remembered something from childhood so vividly that, for a moment, you could almost feel yourself standing there again?
The familiar voices, the excitement, the smell of something delicious cooking, the laughter coming from another room.
For me, Diwali brings back all of that.
Oh, how I loved Diwali!
Waking up early, wearing new clothes, decorating our home with rangoli, lighting diyas, and getting ready to welcome everyone.
Even standing in those long temple lines was exciting. There was something wonderful about being surrounded by people who were just as happy as you were.
And the food!
Our house would fill with visitors, greetings, laughter, and delicious treats. Then we’d visit relatives, where there would be even more food waiting.
And do you remember those childhood moments when touching an elder’s feet for blessings sometimes meant getting a little money for your piggy bank?
I certainly do! Such a small thing, yet such enormous happiness.
We were simply enjoying the moment. I wonder how many of you remember that feeling.
When memories feel closer than places
It’s funny how life changes. You grow up, move away, build a different life, and years pass.
Sometimes you return to the place you once called home, only to realize that the place is familiar, but the moments you remember are no longer there.
The people have changed. Some faces are missing. The celebrations feel different.
And yet, when Diwali comes around, I still feel that same excitement somewhere inside me.
I don’t want to go back and live my childhood again. That little girl is still living inside me, and every Diwali, I feel her excitement all over again.
Maybe you’ve experienced that too. Perhaps it’s a Christmas morning, Eid celebrations, Lunar New Year, a family wedding, or a simple gathering at your grandparents’ house.
Sometimes all it takes is a familiar smell or a song, and suddenly you’re there again.
The little lights we carry
I created this Diwali pattern a few years ago. Bright diyas, colorful lanterns, tiny sparks, and playful shapes dancing against a dark background.
Looking at it today makes me smile. I think I was trying to capture that festive energy I’ve always loved.
But Diwali means something else to me now, too. It’s a reminder of the challenges we’ve overcome, the things we’ve learned, and the hope that comes with a new beginning.
Life changes. Celebrations change. We change. But some feelings stay with us.
And perhaps that’s why we keep lighting those little lamps year after year—not only to celebrate the present, but to carry a little warmth from the past into whatever comes next.
I wonder if you remember this feeling too…
That excitement when everyone was together. The house full of noise. The food you couldn’t wait to eat. The little traditions that seemed so ordinary then but feel so precious now.
Sometimes I wish I could return to one of those days, just for a few hours. Not to change anything. Just to experience it all again.
Is there a celebration or childhood memory that still makes you smile, even after all these years?
I’d love to hear about it. Tell me about the people, the food, the funny little traditions, or that one moment you still carry in your heart. Maybe your memory will remind someone else of theirs.
And wouldn’t that be a lovely way to keep those moments alive?
With light, laughter, and beautiful memories,
Damini
Studio Damini
