Family meet-up on the eve of Lakshmi Pooja. It was pollution and noise-free Diwali for us. The only noise was from all the banter, mischiefs and fun from our discussions on the next big wedding coming up in January 2020.

We dearly missed Sampath, Padma Gajawada, Rohit Gajawada, Rahul, Revanth Chintala, Aniketh Chintala, Divya Chintala, Ayra, Vipin, and Phanindra Chintala who are around the world now on various missions

A Soulful rendition of Baba Arathi by Suresh (an ardent devotee), a mandatory ritual now, as part of all traditional events in the family.

Suresh does transcends into the meditative mode and many others part of the event, during his rendition

I have been attending Lakshmi Pooja at my Dad and Brother’s shop (SV Group of Companies) for about 4 decades now.

Previously, Diwali used to mark the beginning of the new financial new year for most businesses in India. My brother said, they order the physical books (to track A/R, AP, Inventory, and more) during Dasara, and perform the Lakshmi Pooja, and serenade these books amidst Vedic rituals by Hindu priests on Diwali, and begin the use of the books’ day after Diwali.

However, though new financial begins on April 1st and most of their business is computerized using modern accounting software, the tradition of performing the Pooja and the use of books for certain activities still continue.

They will write the first invoice tomorrow via one of these books, pack them up, and re-open them on April 1st.