(No more greetings pls! Diwali is over two days ago)
Deepavali! Spelling the word itself
causes some magic and brings enthusiasm. While nearing the festival of lights
comes an unexplainable joy and mind began to thinks how to celebrate it efficiently
and make memorable. From the childhood days Deepavali has been my favourite
festival or I can say season, as we pick up firecrackers less than a month
ahead to the festival loosely from the local retail shops. The best Deepavali celebration ever in my life
was spent with my late uncle in 1998 and it was a period we were reconstructing
our house and temporarily shifted to my grandmother’s place. The celebration
was wholesome as we gathered as more than two families, everything was double! My
uncle wasn’t an enthusiast of firecrackers, but understanding that we are he
bought us enough and also joining in the fun warfare.
a firework display |
My father used to bring crackers
list from his office when he was in service, where they used to collect fund
and make some present for Deepavali and also arrange for firecrackers according
to the list we marked on. Unlike my late uncle, the young one was just like us
and a decade elder than me has been a prior to us on buying and bursting
crackers. He used to buy 10-20,000 walas and make electric throughout the
street, however it cause an impression and impact about us it’s definitely a
regardless act to make nuisance by
creating loud noises. Though things have changed quite later but the first and
most fascinating thing that comes to mind (still) about Deepavali is
firecrackers. Apart sweet and snacks, new dresses and special program on
television, our main intention has been bursting firecrackers. I see the interesting of bursting
firecrackers has come down and even I see changes within myself and I have
almost lost interest on loud crackers, but the enthusiasm for firework remain.
I keep looking out at sky for firework display from the day ahead and followed by
Deepavalai, I make venture into the neighbourhood looking for Aerial Outs.
Firecrackers aren’t part of our
life and we aren't going to burst every day, and it’s indeed against nature and
environment but I think they cause festival mood. It’s hard to image a
Deepavali without noise though I stopped liking the loud crackers and even the firecracker
I used to burst was only crackles or sparkles. This year the noise has come
down so much in neighbourhood (for good) and I also began to hate loud crackers
as it makes deafening, I haven’t been liked for noise even when I was able to
fire crackers. During Deepavali season one could see me then with ears
surrounded by black marks (gun powder) as I used to close my ears after
igniting firecrackers to ignore sound, so was my favourite one always been the
Red Bijli which make less noise among the firecrackers. Only last year I couldn’t
celebrate Deepavali not only from firecracker and I also couldn’t go out
looking for firework as I was put on cast for femur fracture. I know Deepavali
is not only about firecrackers, but we have grown celebrating that way and
coming out quite will take some time. As an initial step we can deny quite all
noise creating crackers and look for light and colors... according to the
meaning of festival of lights, let’s add only colors.
I think celebrating a festival
couldn’t be anything if we aren’t able to share with others. I see no
difference in people from their daily activity to festival day; they just want
to be left alone whether watching television or staring Smartphone or
computers. People lost interest not only celebrating festivals, but also from variously
activities where there energy used to be high and emotionally supportive. I
wonder where we are heading without facing each other and sharing the moment, I
think even sitting quiet beside will do magic and make sense of sharing. I
think the festivals and certain events are made for memorable to think back and
cherish about the days being together and had fun. I know priorities change
from time to time and it also depend on our need and desire but no where it
said that past has to be forgotten or ignored because we have better things to practice.
Workaholic and different lifestyle take people far way but things aren’t same
in this advanced communication system, but the matter is we don’t have a mind
or put thought to share.
you're absolutely correct - so many family times and traditions are falling by the wayside and being pushed aside in favor of tv, games, on-line interests. personal interaction is not the norm, anymore.
ReplyDeletei don't like noise, either. i was always afraid of firecrackers since i was a small child. i was born on the 4th of July which is a firecracker and fireworks holiday here. my brothers used to pull me out into the farm yard and shoot off firecrackers and say they were for my birthday. i was always scared. :)
My favorites were Oosi pattaasu and the sweets!
ReplyDeleteMy father bought fire crackers (not the very noisy ones). He bought modest amounts, but the best part was that the whole family was together.
Hope you had fun, Jeevan.
Peace :)
Man is a social creature, and will always be one. The interaction, sharing, etc. might shift from one form to another (direct vs. online), but it will happen in some form.
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
I agree that firecrackers are way too noisy but they are so beautiful to watch!
ReplyDeleteSad to think of family traditions not being important anymore... I have been doing so much genealogy research and have collected much information on our relatives... BUT--who in my family will keep this going once I am gone????? Nobody seems interested anymore... Makes me sad...
ReplyDeleteI don't like NOISE either and don't like CROWDS. When we travel we try to travel in the 'off' seasons --when so many tourists are NOT around...
Great post.
Hugs,
Betsy
Sometimes I wonder what will be the beliefs and traditions of future generations.
ReplyDeleteNostalgic...
ReplyDeletethanks jeevan
Dear Jeevan
ReplyDeleteVery bautiful narration about the Deepavali celebrations from your side. It is a nostalgia and you recollect those olden days while sharing about your diwali experiences.
Jeevan on recent sunday i am presented my Third Seminar on Indian Heritage and Culture to young children. In this seminar i am sharing my paintings and other collections relating to Indian Heritage and explaining children about various aspects of our Heritage and Culture through my collections. Children are eagerly participated in my seminar and they clarified their doubts about our glorious heritage.
http://indian-heritage-and-culture.blogspot.in/2014/12/my-third-seminar-on-indian-heritage-and.html
Please look into my Third Seminar on Indian Heritage post and share your valuable and inspirational comment for the same.
Jeevan this is another poular post which i am sharing in my blog about our Lamps and their history through images "Lamps of India". Many people interested and read my Lamps of India message and so far 76 persons gave their comments to my Lamps of India message.
http://indian-heritage-and-culture.blogspot.in/2013/09/lamps-of-india.html
Jeevan please look into my Lamps of India message and share your valuable comments for both my Third Seminar and Lamps of India messages.