Day: Diwali Day. Time: 11 am.
Status: Normal, Relaxed, Happy.
Enjoying the holiday with the TV remote in one hand and mithaai in the other. Enjoying being lazy.
12 hours later - 11 pm.
Status: Angry, Frustrated, Almost Deaf.
Yes, it's Diwali (the festival of lights) and every Indian expects this night to be full of fireworks, sparkle, glitter and lots of dhoom-dhadaaka.
I too love the festive spirit and have always enjoyed celebrating every festival. However, I just don't understand what merit there is in converting almost every locality of India into an alternative for Pokhran.
I mean, I just don't get it.
Why do we have to equate Diwali festivities and enjoyment with having a blast so literally? Can't we be happy keeping all this to a minimum? I have no intention of imposing my ideas on do's and don'ts of celebrating Diwali, but just a request to ask ourselves, what is it the we are celebrating, how we are celebrating it, and isn't there a more meaningful way to go about this day?
I also realise an entire day of Diwali without fireworks, ladis, phuljhadis, pataakhas (not referring to anyone from the female species here), and charkhadis, etc. is like watching Virender Sehwag bat through an entire day without hitting a six or even a boundary.
I'm just wishing we could avoid the heavy-duty bombing we conduct, that not only bombards the ear plugs of everyone, but also scares and concerns the elderly and the infants.
And if that too is unavoidable (unavoidable? as if a doctor has recommended a person that if you don't send 100 bombs into the stratosphere, we might have to put you on life support), is it irrational to keep these to a minimum?
But the more fundamental question is this:
I just want to know why, in the first place, we have to celebrate this way?
What is it that we are celebrating?
Do we, ever, even think as to what this day means - what to learn from this day, and how would it be best to celebrate the day?
Is it not better to understand and remember this day by revisiting Lord Rama's story and teachings, thanking Him for the good things we have, reaffirming our belief in His Grace, having a small and simple puja with everyone at home and doing a good deed for the needy?
More than celebrating Lord Rama's arrival to Ayodhya, this day has become symbolic for gambling in the name of Goddess Lakshmi or incessant bombarding of crackers and bombs in the name of Lord Rama's arrival.
If this is the way we celebrate our devotion to them, I wonder if the obscene, incessant and insouciant way of the way we celebrate Lord Rama's life might itself be reason enough for Lord Rama to take another avatar to tell us to shut up the absurd, insensitive and the nonsensical, that too in His name, and extirpate this evil too!
Be honest here, would Lord Rama and Goddess Lakshmi want us to remember them the way we go about our lives and 'celebrations' on this day?
No, I'm no buddha khoosad/khadoos (neither physically nor mentally) who wants to impose restrictions on an individual's way of life - it's your life after all dude, and it's only you who has the right to live it the way you want to.
But I have a belief that atleast most (if not all) of us would not mind curbing some part of our enjoyment and celebrations, if that helps others to also co-exist peacefully, amicably and happily.
If nothing else, think about how wonderful it would be to spare the elderly their disgust, helplessness, anger, fear and disenchatment with having to live through the night non-stop, hearing a bomb go off in the vicinity of their house every 10 seconds (if it's a ladi, it's also continuously for 10 seconds). Or, the constant trepidation, confusion and unease a child has even when he is in the cradle or even after being put to/trying to be put to sleep.
All of us can provide these simple joys to so many people, at what cost? - by just ensuring we don't go berserk with our bombings, that's all - give it a thought!
Will doing so make our Diwalis less enjoyable or more - not only enjoyable but also more satisfying, caring and meaningful?
Belated Wishes for a Happy Diwali - But Please, Have Anything But A Blast!!!
