Monday, October 23, 2006

Happy Diwali!!


Diwali is the festival of lights and the celebration of good winning over evil. Celebrated with much fervor in India, the Goddess of Wealth, Laxmi is welcomed into our homes by performing various Pujas and rituals. Lots of sweets and fireworks around the country. One of the side effects being high sound levels during the evening and night and a thick layer of smog next morning, though to which me and my family take a full part in!!

Diwali had always been a rambunctious affair for us, my grandfather and his brothers have always been firecracker enthusiasts and have participated all their lives in the community competitions which were an yearly affair, even till a few years ago. Anars were their “specialty” and had even perfected the flying variety. Though these days we are happy with a couple of packets of rockets, a half a dozen bombs (each packet has ten!!) and a few of those seemingly insane, whirring concentric circles of light, the charkas.

My brother, cousin and myself had started with usual fanfare but we soon realized that this time round diwali in Delhi was seemingly uncharacteristic with the pollution levels (including sound) rather abated. Mid-way through we were actually getting embarrased to the extent we called it off. Maybe the "Say No to Firecrackers" campaign, had started to show its effect. Though the unending flow of sweets and a series of delicacies being dished out to us the whole evening kept our spirits high. It seems by the next year not much of fireckrackers would remain in Delhi though I hope someone doesnt start with a "Say No to Sweets" campaign in future!!