The Festival of Lights.
I began writing this post in my beautiful balcony overseeing the concrete jungle of Bangalore. Quite a view I must say. Only that I chose the wrong time to experience the usually peaceful-calm-serene balcony to pump in some inspiration for my bland post. Just then I was welcomed with the loud bursting noise of the crackers, it grew louder and worse. Well, my bad. I almost forgot that Diwali was here. (The Gregorian calender is very confusing and inefficient!) I just couldn't stand the annoying noise, I ran back into the house with nothing more than a severe headache and a confused mind.
My English teacher had taught me that ' Diwali is the festival of lights', I remember writing the same in my childhood school essays. It is funny how certain things that are given emphasis in school/ things that you learn in school, once you grow up and meet the real world out there they seem nothing more than a LIE( I feel so let down and sad about that). Over the years I have witnessed Deepavali become the festival of noise and pollution. It is like celebrating the catalyst in damaging our beloved mother nature. Not to mention the sad state of those adorable dogs out there. I completely empathize with the dogs, dog owners, environment lovers and all those people who are happy with lighting lamps, dressing up ,eating sweets and are scared of bursting crackers and cover it up with the pretext of being ' ecofriendly'. You guys are indirectly doing a great help, you must have realised it by now. Thank you so much.
This festive season is the most awaited one in India. The mouth watering home made sweets and savouries over a hundred varieties which never fails to entertain you mouth and weight. A month before Diwali you can see Gym's overflowing with people trying to shed that extra bit of fat so they can fit into that new sherwani or show off their belly button in that sexy ghaghara. Sending out hand picked assorted sweet boxes to your loved ones. The beautiful bright diyas adding on to the festiveness. The colourful patterns of rangoli. The facebook status updates and glamorous pictures.The entertaining shows keeping us anchored to the television ( that way we can have some great family time).The ever increasing long shopping lists, the appealing discount rates in supermarkets and the feeble economy and its inflationary rates leaves the common man satisfied only with stacking kilos of onions. The festival of lights calls for this and so much more!
Socializing with your distant cousins, family and friends over a scrumptious diwali feast is most common in the elite families of India, exchanging gifts as if it were the Indian Christmas, making small talk and sipping that last bit of aam panna. Some are happy with laddoos, phone calls to their relatives, a box of fire crackers and the within-budget new clothes brought with their diwali bonus. While the rest have to settle for a gaze at the ever crackling sparkling cracker show in the night sky, sighing and hoping if they are lucky enough to come across a decent piece of laddoo or let alone a square meal. This is the diversity of India that we often boast about.
Well, I bet you all have put on those extra kilos munching on your mum's yummy diwali specials; at your best and gleeful wearing the shimmery costumes; enjoying the visual feast around you; bursting crackers, illuminating your house with the ever serene diyas; friends, families, love and positivity. The hustle bustle, jhatak matak, loud noises, bold colours and happy people; that is what Indian festivals are about.
There is something special about the festival of lights that sets it apart for the year long festivals celebrated in India. Amidst the festive frenzy and the smell of crackers fresh in the air, all the evil that has to be dealt with is forgotten ( that is not very good for long) and a sense of belongingness and happiness is found in every bright corner of India.
It is the spirit of festival at its best.
Happy Diwali, play it safe!
Reasons behind celebrating Diwali-
http://hinduism.about.com/cs/diwali/a/aa102003a.htm
My English teacher had taught me that ' Diwali is the festival of lights', I remember writing the same in my childhood school essays. It is funny how certain things that are given emphasis in school/ things that you learn in school, once you grow up and meet the real world out there they seem nothing more than a LIE( I feel so let down and sad about that). Over the years I have witnessed Deepavali become the festival of noise and pollution. It is like celebrating the catalyst in damaging our beloved mother nature. Not to mention the sad state of those adorable dogs out there. I completely empathize with the dogs, dog owners, environment lovers and all those people who are happy with lighting lamps, dressing up ,eating sweets and are scared of bursting crackers and cover it up with the pretext of being ' ecofriendly'. You guys are indirectly doing a great help, you must have realised it by now. Thank you so much.
This festive season is the most awaited one in India. The mouth watering home made sweets and savouries over a hundred varieties which never fails to entertain you mouth and weight. A month before Diwali you can see Gym's overflowing with people trying to shed that extra bit of fat so they can fit into that new sherwani or show off their belly button in that sexy ghaghara. Sending out hand picked assorted sweet boxes to your loved ones. The beautiful bright diyas adding on to the festiveness. The colourful patterns of rangoli. The facebook status updates and glamorous pictures.The entertaining shows keeping us anchored to the television ( that way we can have some great family time).The ever increasing long shopping lists, the appealing discount rates in supermarkets and the feeble economy and its inflationary rates leaves the common man satisfied only with stacking kilos of onions. The festival of lights calls for this and so much more!
Socializing with your distant cousins, family and friends over a scrumptious diwali feast is most common in the elite families of India, exchanging gifts as if it were the Indian Christmas, making small talk and sipping that last bit of aam panna. Some are happy with laddoos, phone calls to their relatives, a box of fire crackers and the within-budget new clothes brought with their diwali bonus. While the rest have to settle for a gaze at the ever crackling sparkling cracker show in the night sky, sighing and hoping if they are lucky enough to come across a decent piece of laddoo or let alone a square meal. This is the diversity of India that we often boast about.
Well, I bet you all have put on those extra kilos munching on your mum's yummy diwali specials; at your best and gleeful wearing the shimmery costumes; enjoying the visual feast around you; bursting crackers, illuminating your house with the ever serene diyas; friends, families, love and positivity. The hustle bustle, jhatak matak, loud noises, bold colours and happy people; that is what Indian festivals are about.
There is something special about the festival of lights that sets it apart for the year long festivals celebrated in India. Amidst the festive frenzy and the smell of crackers fresh in the air, all the evil that has to be dealt with is forgotten ( that is not very good for long) and a sense of belongingness and happiness is found in every bright corner of India.
It is the spirit of festival at its best.
Happy Diwali, play it safe!
Reasons behind celebrating Diwali-
http://hinduism.about.com/cs/diwali/a/aa102003a.htm
P.C- Alvina Joshi
Dear Gayathri,
ReplyDeleteI just read your article!
You have talked about diwali soo well!
Of all artcles, this is a good one! :D
Thank you so much! :)
ReplyDelete