Diwali and Me — What has changed!!!

A gloom set in, the heart nearly sank at this kind of Diwali with so less excitement in the young people. With the ban on crackers on, I wondered how soon it will be before the ‘Deeyas’ are banned too for causing pollution. I cheered myself with what I love most — lighting the ‘Deeyas and sat with my niece trying out some ‘Rangoli’.

But the gloom didn’t last long and soon the sound of crackers, the lights emitting out of these crackers filled the sky and lifted my gloom! I enjoyed each byte of that extra sound or noise as I once called! I opened the window to view the night sky and was filled with certain kind of relief to witness the dark night amid smoke and dust; and light and sound! No all was not lost, there was still some hope. I loved this defiance.

Not long ago, I dreaded Diwali for the sound and smoke of the crackers. I always loved lighting the Deeyas in the twilight however as the evening passed I would hope for all of it to end. The smoke was unbearable, the sound too much to bear and I would wonder how and when I would manage some sleep.

Delhi’s lanes and by lanes to be honest, are not the ideal place to burst crackers; the smokes stay and create a suffocation difficult to describe. Add to that the fear that my wheezing would rise made me very very uncomfortable. I would start thinking of the sleepless nights right from the evening and I would thank my stars if I managed a few hours of good night’s sleep on the Diwali night.

This is not just me! I can bear to some extent but for the countless old people and the vulnerable ones, this is in fact a nightmare. I never say this is the only nightmare and that our health would be perfect save this night however just as there is a way out to solve every other, there should be a way out here too!

It’s been 3 years since my Ma left this world and I remember how difficult her last Diwali night was! With crackers bursting with volumes good enough to break your head, she hardly slept and had to be admitted to the hospital the next morning! Yes, she had other ailments and from many years and no that night didn’t cause her death but that night was particularly painful for her.

And I specifically mean Delhi because this is where I have been living for the last so many years and I know how congested it is! It is in congested localities like this that there should be restrictions and applied by the common people! Common sense is largely lacking in Delhi whether it’s the show of money in buying crackers, the taste and volume of music played or for that matter maintaining just common cleanliness habits.

The Government and the Courts poking their head into this moral policing of not allowing people to buy and sell crackers is absolutely nonsense, to which it has no right; and specifically for Hindus who have been subjected to this unfairness for many many years. All the festivals are getting targeted and it is sad to see Hindus fall for this narrative.

It is here in this context that I took delight looking at the lighted night sky, I hoped for some more sound of the crackers which I once dreaded. I took to twitter sharing pics and videos of celebrations across the country. Yes, I said ‘go to hell’ to those talking about environment, to those talking about pets and to those who talk about a green Diwali! My foot, I said!

Celebrations must go on; it will be a sad sight to see people falling prey to this propaganda of shaming our festivals and take out the very life out of festivities. This is the continuation of a civilizational trait and must be preserved! Those who start caring for the environment and their pets on only certain days and times of the year actually don’t bother for the rest of the year.

But we shall not be blind; we need to move forward with the times and apply some common sense as well. Temples should come to the rescue and organise these festivals and encourage a community celebration right from Rangolis to lighting Deeyas and bursting crackers. There needs to be some sort of initiative to leave the living space little clear whether it means understanding your neighbour’s plight or having to clear the trash next morning — our own trash that is!

It’s not enough to say we go green when each of us will drive our own cars to work instead of pooling or using the public transport; or saying we shall celebrate no matter what!

However we shall celebrate!