Growing up in the magical 90s
The 90s era held a special magic for children during Republic Day that today’s digital generation will likely never truly understand. The excitement began at dawn with the sight of the local ‘cycle wale bhaiya’ selling paper flags. Nothing beat striding through school gates as a kid, bag left behind for once.
White uniforms crisp, shoes gleaming, we’d hunker down all morning over tricolor rangolis — hands caked in chalk, hearts full of that fierce little pride. The loud beats of Des Rangila blasted through the speakers as groups danced on the dusty playground. These moments had nothing to do with likes or social media filters.
They were just about the raw energy of celebrating together. The school grounds were a sea of orange, white, and green. We worked together on tricolor rangolis and practiced our steps for the group dance. The grand finale was always the distribution of the classic snack packet. Opening that small paper packet was the ultimate 90s core memory.
Whether it was a childhod birthday party or Republic Day, finding a warm samosa and a sweet boondi ladoo inside felt like a huge win. Inside, a single warm samosa and a sweet boondi ladoo felt like the ultimate prize. Sharing those treats while sitting on the grass remains a core memory. In a world of screens, that era stands out as a golden time when a paper flag and a sweet treat were enough to ignite a deep, soaring sense of patriotism.
