Preparations are in full swing and local shops are filled with sutli bombs, anars, chakris, fuljhadis and a lot more; we tend to forget that Diwali is beyond firecrackers and all the noise around it. Indeed the festive season celebrates love by exchanging gifts which begins with some serious shopping trips, but the essence has always been spiritual that signifies the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and hope over despair. Though many have their own way to celebrate the festival of light, there are some who still follow the traditional rituals, we recently talked to many celebrities and this is how they love spending Diwali
‘A time to let go off personal issues’
Sana Khan
“I celebrate it with my loved ones by going out for dinner, getting dressed up, exchanging gifts and decorating the house. Festivals are always fun. It gets us to meet so many people with whom we laugh and eat. It’s just a very happy time. My best memory from my childhood is of going to everyone’s house to collect and bring home the besan ladoos and then eat them at ease for a week. I was always very fascinated by rangolis and I still am. I just want say that it’s an opportunity to let go off personal issues with your loved ones and make peace again.”
‘It’s a season to be thankful to the universe’
-Freddy Daruwala
“The festival is about love, togetherness and being grateful. I celebrate Diwali with my friends, enjoying the card parties, the chitchat, eating sweets etc. Every year I love to go home, be with my family, help my mom clean the house, eat everything she has prepared for Diwali, and catch up with friends. I remember this one particular Diwali when I was 12 and my dad got me this big-boy bicycle – I spent that Diwali on my bicycle more than I spent it in my house! The Diwali break is also the longest mid-term vacation; the monsoons have ended, the season has changed, the smell is different, and we start playing a lot of sport. When I get back home I still play a lot of cricket. During this time, I rejuvenate, I regather my momentum. I promise myself that I will be much stronger and fresher for the season to come. It is also a season for me to look back and be thankful to the universe for what it has given me. Also since I am not on diet or working out those days, it is a total vacation package for me!”
‘We keep it simple on our farmhouse’
-Ihana Dhillon
“I always celebrate with my family at our farm in Punjab. We don’t go overboard and keep it simple with lights, sweets and lots of family time together. No matter which part of the world we are in, we always make sure that on Diwali we all gather there. The ceremonies are simple – attractive lighting, good food and lots and lots of sweets. My best Diwali memories involve preparing diyas for the evening. It starts in the morning by soaking earthen diyas in water for hours, then by afternoon taking them out of the water and leave them to dry. When we were kids we used to make our own baatis (cotton wicks) out of cotton and we kind of loved helping our mom doing the same. As the sun starts setting, the process of filling diyas with mustard oil and placing them all around the house starts. In the present scenario, I would like to request every one to avoid crackers to help the environment. Time have changed and pollution rates are alarming. Let’s try to make it safe and prosperous Diwali for every one.”
‘Do good and you will be rewarded’
-Angela Krislinzki
“Diwali is a festival of lights, victory of light over darkness. I don’t like to splurge on crackers, fireworks, clothes, sweets, etc. rather I like to celebrate it with the less fortunate every year. I try my bit to fill their lives with happiness and light and in return my life is filled with happiness looking at their million dollar smiles. Every year, we pick an NGO and spend time with the lovely innocent creations of god. My childhood memories of Diwali are irreplaceable…my grandmother who is a great cook used to make all the Diwali delicacies at home, and she used to send across sweets to all the neighbours and loved ones…and in return they would send us sweets. She would light up the whole house with diyas … and teach me how to make rangoli. Diwali, for me, is a festival where the good defeats evil and if ever in life you feel low about how life is going for you, remember your goodness will always win…so keep doing good and you shall be rewarded.”
‘We would step out on holidays’
-Vatsal Sheth
“Diwali is a family affair where from having all the meals together to playing cards, we do it all together. It’s one of the most amazing festivals that I enjoy. Diwali was the only time when my father used to get a long holiday from his work, so we’d step outside Mumbai and visit different places in India and abroad. We all know what crackers do to our environment and animals, so let’s stay safe and away from them and enjoy it with family.”
‘My grandmother would gift me heirloom jewellery’
-Sandeepa Dhar
“Diwali means I have to be home no matter where I am, even for a couple of hours. Being with family during Diwali is very important and is also like a tradition that we all follow. There’s a lot buzzing energy in the house with so many people coming in and going. The newness comes in the way we try to decorate our houses differently each year. We play a lot of board games like Sequence where everyone’s screaming and trying to outdo the other, so it’s super fun. My best Diwali memories are from when my maternal grandmother was alive. Every Diwali after I turned 18 she’d give me one family heirloom from her jewellery box and she had the most amazing collection. I would tell my readers to not burst crackers because it’s very unkind to our pets and environment. I feel it’s one festival that binds everyone together so it means a lot to every Indian across the world. Also, it comes towards the end of the year so why not mark it with fun, laughter and a lot of positive vibes?”
‘Live and let live’
-Chahat Khanna
“Diwali means celebration, family, party time, a lot of lights and Laxmi puja. Of course, this year is going to be the most special because I have just bought a new house and I will do Laxmi puja in my brand new house. When we were kids we would spend loads on buying firecrackers but I don’t want to do that anymore since I have matured. Going to our office in town and doing Laxmi puja with the whole Khanna family and my most favourite Dadaji, has been my all time favourite lifetime memory Don’t waste your money buying crackers and do not burst them as it harms the environment, animals and mankind. The world is for all and let everyone live and be happy the way we are happy.”
‘This year we are going to a beach destination’
-Anurita Jha
”I always celebrate Diwali with family. Once I had to stay in Mumbai for a shoot during the festive season and I kept on crying the whole time because I was feeling so sad being away from home. I buy new clothes for family and myself every Diwali and for the past few years I have totally stopped bursting crackers. This year is going be interesting as we are all going to a beach destination. My best memory is eating lots and lots of sweets and even eating the share of my cousins and then fighting for it! Diwali is very important to me, as there is so much joy and happiness. I love lighting up my home with diyas and the joy is incomparable when the whole place is lit up and it’s shining. We all clean our homes especially during Diwali and I request all my fellow Indians to treat our country as our home and keep it clean throughout and not only on special occasions.”
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