For that matter, anything novel in Dubai attracts people. They just throng it. Yes, I realise I am diverting, but allow me to take the freedom. The fascination for the Metro was so much that stations were shut to control the crowd. Come a weekend or a holiday, and people plan a Metro ride. It’s like a picnic spot.

The Atlantis is yet another attraction. Its gigantic parking lot gets full on a holiday. The latest attraction is the Stargate at Zabeel Park. Scores of families have visited the area in the past couple of weeks. Even the scorching sun is not a deterrent. Groups, large and small, spend the whole day at the park with food, drinks, and barbecue — the works. A starved lot, are we? Or is it a heady mix of enthusiasm 
and curiosity?

Getting back, I wonder why celebrating festivals gain so much importance when we are away from our home countries. Of course, we did celebrate back home, too, but then they came more naturally, didn’t they? Is the act of celebrating an effort here? Is it a wee bit forced? No, not that celebrations lack luster here, and, that we do not enjoy them. In fact, there’s more glitz and glam, and we enjoy terrifically! But, is there this niggling feeling that if we do not celebrate, we are missing out on something? It’s like we are holding on to something, like we do not want to let go. We celebrate like our life 
depends on it.

Well, I should say it does, really. I for one concur to the view that life is a celebration, and every occasion has to be celebrated. Celebrations for me bring back memories — pleasant memories, nostalgic memories. They take me back to the time when relatives gathered to celebrate. Uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews would come together, with the grandfather holding fort. There was a sense of belonging, of being part of one big, happy family. The children had good fun and good food. Nothing else mattered.

Skirmishes would have transpired with so many people around, with favourite cousins and aunts, but for the children they were inconsequential. I do not remember one-upmanship among cousins. Was it training on 
team spirit?

Getting together on the festival day was most important and most normal. Busy dads looked calm and relaxed. Moms got busy cooking and the chatting, ooops! talking. Oh! how I miss those days. How I envy the cousins who are back home, who still get together
 to celebrate!

Hey, but, we do make the best of the situation, don’t we? Festivals here may not be celebrated on the same day due to the Dubai life (read busy schedules). They may be postponed to coincide with the weekends. But, that 
is insignificant.

As long as they are celebrated, as long as people get together, as long as youngsters get a feel of them, the day ceases 
to matter.

It is celebrations such as these that remain etched in our minds forever, wherever we are. Such occasions help keep the family together, help children hold on to family values and traditions.

For me, larger the scale of celebrations, the better. Let me take a stroll down memory lane. Dad’s warm smile comes to my mind. He welcomed people into our home as if there was no tomorrow. His hospitality was often talked about in family circles, though it never went down well with my mom! But the scrumptious food she cooked (yummm! the taste still lingers) in large quantities complemented my dad’s ways. The combination was deadly and it made sure that there was a constant stream of people to our home.

In the midst of all the fun and frolic we kids went about our task of studying, which incidentally was the only task! There was no separate room, no privacy, no specific study time. In fact, it was up to us to find time 
to study.

Memories of the full house, the camaraderie, the feeling of security and the taste of the food linger and keep me connected, urging me go back at the slightest excuse, to be part of 
the family.

Maybe I am being selfish here, but let me share a secret. This is what I would want my daughter to do, too. And it’s up to me to make her want to do it.

Roopa Kurian is Editor Special Pages at Khaleej Times. She can be reached at 
roopa@khaleejtimes.com