HAPPY DIWALI

It’s the end of October! The time of the year everyone has awaited has come! You’re correct, it’s Diwali. India is known for it’s festivities around the world. And Diwali is so popular that not only in India but it is celebrated in Tokyo, NYC, London and Paris (NRI celebrations).But why only Diwali? Coz it is special. Now soon, you’ll be the part of huge family gatherings, shopathons with your mom, go on a relaxing and refreshing holiday. Is that what makes Diwali everyone’s favourite?

Every Diwali, we all friends and families gather once. Ok family gatherings might be boring but we always would want to go because it’s all about sweets and good food and gifts. You may never see that aunt of your father’s cousin’s niece’s granny but she is sure to give you a voucher at Amazon. You will see Italian next to Fafdas, Rosogullas next to Burritos and what not!

Food isn’t the only haven for a celebrator. We wouldn’t buy a single dress at any time of the year but at Diwali, you can stay assured to get a new wardrobe! And why not when everyone has a Buy1Get1 or 50% off.

Is that it, not necessarily!

Apart from these run off the mill rituals and traditions, the festival of Diwali is a symbol of light, a symbol of victory over vices and a symbol of the rays of goodness to oust the clouds of evil. But do we stand by it? Millennials ago Lord Rama defeated Ravanaa in hope to reinstate peace and order in the society, but today, in stark contrast, we celebrate Diwali in the very chaotic ways.

We fire crackers. That is the worst thing we do in the name of religion. We buy crackers worth thousands and then burst them. In doing so, we don't realise that we aren't burning crackers but the money we have earned that many don't have luck to. Crackers also contribute to the degradation of the environment in the worst possible way. Changing your profile picture or sharing the video of Leonardo diCaprio wouldn't necessarily stop global warming or environmental degradation but stopping to crack crackers and asking others too will. Also, we celebrate this as a festival of lights, while thousands of child labour victims don't see the rays of the sun for months as they spend their time making these 'sutli bombs'. So, a modest request from us, please don't fire crackers.

Diwali will be a greater and more happiness bringing when we share ours. Instead of spending everything on the above luxurious celebrations and commodities, we can also share something with those who are like us- homo sapiens, but without happiness.Our friend and fellow blogger Tarit Vepari has written about a missionary in his article, we would ask you all to spend some time there and spread joy. The link to that article is https://theclutterofideas.wordpress.com/2016/10/21/missionaries-of-charity-aiding-the-rejected/. Let’s think about birds. Let’s think about insects. Let’s think about already record hit pollution. Let’s think about ourselves.

Apart from those annoying ‘happy diwali’ messages on WhatsApp, Diwali is going to be fun!

We, the Verdadero Family, wish everyone a Great Diwali!