The fading customs of Diwali!

With the ushering of Diwali, the women in the house decorate the house entrance with attractive rangoli and earthen diyas. Though the earthen diyas were a tradition of the past when there was no electricity, even today they hold great significance. The only change is that today the earthen diyas have become colourful and attractive. Nowadays, floating candles are the latest trend. Besides the invasion of Chinese candles and colourful and dazzling garlands, the demand for Indian earthen diyas is gradually taking a back seat.

The orthodox rangolis made from traditional natural colours, too, are being invaded by attractive sticker rangolis as people have no time to design rangolis while stickers are easy to decorate the entrance of a house. As a result, all the olden customs related to the Diwali festival are slowing becoming hazy and passing into oblivion. What is most distressing is the disappearance of the excitement and enthusiasm with which our ancestors celebrated Diwali. Today, Diwali has just become a formality.  The attention of people has diverted from the Diwali festival to the pollution created by crackers and loud fireworks.

Earlier, people would visit their neighbours and near and dear ones with passion and devotion. They would appreciate the rangoli of each other and enjoy the Diwali ‘Faral’. There would be a kind of competition among the neighbours to design the best rangoli in their area. But, alas, today the Diwali of traditions and virtues is passé and what is left is just polluted Diwali with ear-splitting crackers. Today, there is competition among the youth to burst crackers with the loudest noise or who would light a cracker string with maximum crackers.
What is most amazing is that while the schools are teaching their students to refrain from crackers and celebrate Green Diwali, ironically parents are seen busy purchasing fireworks for their kids and encouraging them to burst crackers!!!

It may be remembered that the Supreme Court has not banned bursting of crackers, but it has urged citizens to burst fireworks that do not pollute the environment. So, burst Green Crackers and celebrate Diwali with colourful lights and avoid chemical crackers and those that give off ear-deafening sounds.

Home Times wishes all its readers, patrons and advertisers a Happy Diwali and a Bright and Prosperous New Year.

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