What is home?

 What is home?..I wonder...

My immediate thought is - a place we grew-up at or  where our parents or loved ones are.

While being in kitchen and wiping the washed dishes, my mind was pondering over that thought....then a 'before & after' image of a messy garden (back in hometown) from home flashed on my mind...the one that was shared by my brother this morning.

Seeing that picture with neatly arranged pots and plants, my immediate response to him was - 'Welcome Home💖'.

Such tasks alor day cleaning rituals around Diwali was a very common thing for me to indulge in and I would be accompanied by my elder Uncle or my grandfather (is not more wth us); but it was very unusual for me to see my brother indulging in such things. This new awareness brought a smile on my face.

My thoughts then shifted back to where I was - in Bangalore and to the tender  shoots of tropical leafs (most favourite) and peace lily plants that I have plucked this morning from house-gardens of the nearby lanes, on my way back home from some veggies shopping.

For a moment, I wondered what made me do that? When did this very thought or belief that I can have my own garden came to me?...and what is it so magical about taking that time to clean the fallen leaves, dirt from around the pots and wash bird baths with the thought that they would be happy to see it all clean and will bathe in joy and express it with the fluttering wet wings and a sweet arrival song. A part of my heart was praying for the shoots - may they also feel at home in my garden because I had taken them away from their own family...

After all the back and forth in mind, I arrived at a conclusion which fills me with peace and is what I think Home is, It can even be a fraction of a second where the inner child in us is nurtured through actions, talks, music, indulging in a task that bring back happy and carefree memories etc. and is allowed the freedom of expression irrespective of the age or place or title or mask we wear for society.

Wishing you all a joyous, prosperous and healthy Dipawali💖🙏.

What is home to you?