It’s a warm August morning. The velvety crimson hue smothers the horizon in the east announcing new beginnings, illumination, and hope. The sky is luminously blue with large wooly clouds. The ground still spongy with rain from last night, but today is one of those rare, almost balmy days that hint at the onset of glorious fall/autumn ahead. Leaves are slowly changing their color from verdant green to bright golden and that gorgeous red.

Kids are still sleeping, let them enjoy their vacation,

I chuckle as I return home after a morning walk and now go to start prepping up for the special day. Fresh flowers, fruits, dhuno (incense stick), panchmeva (five kinds of dry fruits) and sweets that are still to be made for today’s puja.

I ventured into the kitchen looking for some inspiration for SCD (sugar-free & grain free) sweets. Still, half-asleep Vedika comes to the kitchen looking for me, astonishing me at the sudden hug, "what are you doing so early in the morning mamma, it’s not even eight?" She asked in dismay.

"I’m making flower garland for puja, you want to help me?" I tell her. "Why? Is it anything special today?" she enquires. "Yeah, it is... It’s Janmashtami today. The Lord shall be arriving today. He will leave his abode in Vaikunth to descend to earth and we have to be ready to welcome him, don’t we?" "Oh yes, its little Krishna’s birthday today", she responds in a flash.

Thanks to animation media, I smiled.

"So what are you making for him mamma? Wait I know he likes to have sweets." Out came the answer, her eyes glistening in delight. But this momentarily delights soon vanished in the predicament of innocent anxiety. "But I cannot enjoy those sweets as I’m on diet", she tells me teary eyed. "How about we make diet sweets today", I said trying to appease the situation. "But what if he doesn’t like the food and leave our home."

After all, it’s her little Krishna and her innocent concern for him, I sighed. "He is fond of sweets and he will not like the diet sweets, for I’m sick, he’s not", and the tears started rolling down the cheeks. I could sense that intense wave of emotion.

He is fond of our earnest devotion & faith, without having any doubt in our mind. Faith that he shall guide us the way to pass the storm and stress of our life with wisdom & ability.  These offerings are mere acts of devotion calculated to give him pleasure.

I know these ideologies may not make sense to an eight-year-old but I’m sure she will find it more relevant as she grows.

For now, she is ready with this dates & nuts laddu to welcome the Lord, her adorable little Krishna!!