Diwali: Now and Then by V.S. Gopalakrishnan

…Today for me, Diwali means “defenestration” (shutting of the windows) for a few days, to escape noise and more importantly smoke. Those olden Deepavalis, as we called them in the South, were sheer out-door days where all that mattered was high decibels and sparkling colours.

…The worst part of Deepavali was the waking up at an early nightmarish hour. …

The second-worst thing for the youngsters is the oil-bath. The mother smears a handful of “nallennai” (gingelly oil) on the head and you are supposed to retire to the bathroom, anoint your whole body with oil and have a shikakai-bath.

…Then things begin to improve. Mummy brings the new clothes, applies a finger tip of vermilion to a corner of each piece and hands them over to you. You wear the new clothes and do a shaashtaang namaskaar to Appa and Amma.

You are given a piece of Mysore Pak sweet which actually mummy pushes into the mouth and then you run out of the house with crackers in your hands and then the out-doors is all yours. This indeed is the crowning glory of a moment for the boys. And then the day goes on into a happy and listless cracker-firing session.

…I remember how adamant I was about buying a cap-firing pistol which cost only one rupee (really a lot in those days more than 55 years ago) which my father was reluctant to afford. I took the hell out of him till I got the lovely red-coloured pistol. There is something macho about pistols and guns and this could explain my adamancy even though I was only about ten years old.

…There were no “rockets” those days which you fire now from the mouth of a bottle. The hand-held catherine-wheels, and the bhumi chakras on the floor were a great visual delight for us. The atom-bombs too were non-existent then, and the largest explosive was the beautiful “Lakshmi-vedi” (Lakshmi Cracker), which made a terrible noise. The Sivakasi manufactures had attractive goddesses printed on them and only later on, the film actresses joined the fray.

…Now I literally cower at the sound of Diwali, not to ask of the crackers. Diwali has become an unfriendly festival to the senior citizens. Modern living and lifestyles have made us vulnerable to increasing levels of pollution. I love to read and sleep during the Diwali days, with all the doors and windows in my apartment totally shut, with the Air Conditioners sometimes kept busy. That is the way I celebrate happy Diwali! But sweets and relatives, visitors and friends are amply welcome!

Namaskar,

Diwali is the night of no moon.It is said to be the darkest night of the year. Yet, we make it glow with our efforts and optimistic attitude to life.

At the moment, world economy is in a state of gloom, there is darkness all around. In this dark hour, we should still not lose hope.

We should continue to create brightness in our own minds, our houses and the society & world as a whole.

The economic turmoil will surely claim a few victims. There is no point trying to fool ourselves that it can be a painless turbulence.

The whole world is bound to be affected, though there might be differences in degrees. It will touch each one of us.

Yet, we have to remain hopeful about the future. Everything that has a beginning must end. The financial tsunami that began in the USA will surely come to an end sooner or later. The supremacy of USA and her allies is bound to end. The world is bound to be a different place in the next few years.

When the world goes through a major transition, the one who
understands the transitory nature of transition is calm and relaxed.

Keeping the lamp of hope and faith alive in the heart comes naturally to someone who has this wisdom.

On the eve of this Diwali, let me pray that you have the wisdom to see beyond turmoil and turbulence. May the Goddess of lights enthuse you even in the darkest hours! May you be filled with hope even when everyone else despairs!

May Diwali bring SHUBH LABH (prosperity and wealth that is good for everyone), good health, happiness and joys for you, your family and for the whole society and world.

With Best Wishes And Regards,

Anil Chawla

Jai Hind