Diwali reflections!

 

Diwali reflections!

Diwali or Deepawali, the night of lamps, is finally here today. As is the ritual, people have cleaned and decorated their houses, bought mithai (sweets) and gifts, placed the small idols of Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) and Ganesh (god who removes obstacles) and will light lamps tonight so that these gods can see their way around the house and decide where to park themselves for the year.

Ignoring all these activities, I sit on my keyboard here wondering what I could wish for myself and for the others this day today.

I do not get greetings cards on Diwali now. The few cards I used to get cost money, time and effort to the senders. They have been replaced by dozens of free of cost, effortless and time-saver Whatsapp messages from people well-known or little known to me. Since it is easy to straightaway forward them, I have already been lucky to receive a couple of messages with the senders’ names at the bottom, whom I do not know but those who forwarded them (without reading till the bottom), presumably did. I too reply with the usual emoji of folded hands (Or is it high five?) to say my thanks.

The messages, in essence, wish that I have a happy, prosperous Diwali. The words carry with them the burden of pictures of anything from the gods to piles of gold coins, lamps, firecrackers (photos not banned, yet), sweets and what not.

After years of enduring this undeserving bombardment of photos and wordplays, I am certain that the senders have either no sincerity about what they say or no control over who is supposed to put those wishes into practice and how. I have no occupation or business which could explode into cash or assets on Diwali day, so prosperity-wise, today is just another day. Besides, even if a fraction of these wishes came true, wouldn’t I be known as Savitri Jindal’s rival by now?

In fact it is the garment, home decor and eatery owners who must be happy these days. After the lull of several months, people sprucing up their homes have cleaned out the shops of old stocks to change the things in their own houses that they have been staring at for the last several months.

Across all religions, people have cribbed about losing a holiday as today (Diwali day) is a Saturday. They went without a holiday on Dussehra too, as it was a Sunday. And most among them are the ones who were desperate to go to their workplace when they were forced to remain inside their houses just a few months ago.  

My attention also goes to the environment warriors who have a busy night ahead. Forgetting the year-long noise pollution due to blaring music and horns, loud conversation on mobile phones, and air pollution because of traffic and stubble-burning, they would be on the vigil for noise and smoke of firecrackers for the next few hours.

The debate on whether to light an earthen lamp, a candle or switch on a row of twinkling electric lights continues. Do you switch off artificial electric lights and light diyas (earthen lamps) in pre-Thomas Alva Edison nostalgia, refilling them with edible oil and protecting your precious silks from their brightly-burning flames, to save power? Do Diwali lights ever light up brain cells turning people into better human beings the day after?

After weeks of cooking necessitated due to boredom, besides the compulsion to eat, we promised to eat healthy once the supplies were freely available. Will it be disrespectful to say ‘no’ to the tradition of exchanging sickly sweet mithai (those made in desi ghee {clarified butter} are worse because the smell starts changing rapidly)?  

Chocolates, not firecrackers!

After a forced excess of family time due to Covid, do you go out and meet those friends and people whose Covid status you are not sure about?

Considering the kick in the backside that the virus has given to almost all the employers and employees, the hullabaloo on the gift front seems a little unnecessary. Yet our Central Government has given away a massive Rs 3,737 crore ‘productivity-linked’ and ‘non-productivity linked’ bonus to its employees so that they can go out, spend and ‘help the economy’. Is crowding the markets and creating an earthquake in your own economy to boost that of the country’s, a new expression of patriotism? If that is so, why are the banks still harping on their savings schemes?

I had started with the hope of finding something very intelligent to say, but in my confusion I am fast losing focus. My doubts are contaminating my wishes.

Thus, the wise thing to do is to wrap up this monologue and let you all enjoy the day and night. All of us have gone through nearly a year of worry, anxiety, loneliness and loss, so it is time to cheer up and have a good time. 

The question remains what I should wish for everyone- health, wealth and happiness? Et tu, Brute?

Whether you have pyromaniacal celebrations  with lights, candles and fireworks to even out the quietude of lockdown period or lie low with subdued celebrations, I wish for you all a time of hope, promise, faith and positivity for better times ahead.

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