As the sun sets, the house comes alive again. The sound of the aarti (prayer hymn) plays from the phone. The kids come home, dropping school bags like dead weight. The snack of choice? Pakoras (fried fritters) and chai.

This is the time for stories. My son tells me about the fight he won on the playground. My daughter shows me a drawing she made. My husband comes home, loosens his tie, and immediately asks, "Kya khana hai?" (What’s for dinner?)

Touching feet of elders when meeting, seeking blessings before exams/job interviews, and consulting them on major decisions remain common.

These festivals often become the backdrop for family stories – the time uncle fell into the water tank during Holi, or when grandmother’s kheer won the neighborhood competition.