With maids away, it's a busy Diwali for city homemakers

The drudgery of routine household chores becomes less of a hurdle for the homemakers when the domestic help’s around. From sweeping and cleaning to keep the home fire burning it’s a demanding job, finds most modern day homemakers who often walk the tightrope between work schedules and home tasks.

But come festive season, it turns out to be a traumatic experience as domestic helps or our ubiquitous Ramlas go on a holiday spree leaving such families at tethers end on Diwali day. According to an estimate, there are around one lakh domestic helps who come from distant land like Rajasthan, Orissa
besides other states.

Though Holi is considered to be the time when all domestic helps, particularly the ones who hail from Rajasthan, go back to their native, Diwali is also turning out to be another mini vacation time for them. This year too, the scene’s no different with most of them having left for their celebrations back home a week ago and promising to return only after Labh Pancham!

“My wife has to deal with all the household work single-handedly. It’s taxing, especially when we want our house to be perfectly decorated and clean during the festivities,” said Ashok Punjabi, president of Ramla’s organization.

For those who avail Ramlas’ service in their kitchens, it’s a testing time for their culinary skills too. “It is tough to manage things without domestic help in festive season. But we have to deal with it. As far as kitchen work is concerned, we help each other to ease the burden of chores,” said Ramesh Ahiri, an advocate.

Not all would want to settle for restaurant meals jostling for space and burning a hole in the pocket just to escape the kitchen demands.