Walking into an Indian kitchen at 8:00 AM, you will witness a miracle of logistics. The mother or grandmother is usually the "CEO of Stomachs." She remembers that her husband hates bottle gourd, that her daughter-in-law is allergic to urad dal, and that her youngest grandson needs a "lunch box that wins the class competition."
When the world thinks of India, it often visualizes the grand monuments like the Taj Mahal, the chaotic traffic of Delhi, or the serene backwaters of Kerala. But for the 1.4 billion people who call it home, the true essence of India is not found on a postcard. It is found in the tiny, bustling details of the Indian family lifestyle .
During Diwali, the family dynamic shifts. The kitchen becomes a bomb site of ghee and sugar as laddoos are rolled. The mother is stressed beyond belief, but she is happiest when stressed. The father, who never touches a broom all year, is suddenly an expert on hanging fairy lights.