In a few days, many Indians across the world will celebrate Diwali, the biggest festival for many of them. It is a festival of lighting lamps, wearing new clothes, greeting friends, and distributing sweets.
Over the years, the celebrations have changed. When I was a young boy, my biggest joy was lighting earthen lamps around our house and bursting crackers. Now, the earthen lamps have been replaced by electronic lights; traditional sweets like laddoos and barfis have been replaced with chocolates, crackers are frowned upon and greeting friends has been replaced with WhatsApp messages. How we celebrate our festivals is also evolving in our digital world.
Nevertheless, it is important to celebrate our festivals. There is ample gloom around us. The Ukraine-Russia war, rising prices and inflation, unemployment, etc. So, it is important to celebrate our festivals since they bring some joy and happiness to us. So, Happy festivals!
Rajendra Aneja
Mumbai, India