Celebration of Diwali -21st Century Style
When I try to reflect what kind of celebration of Diwali must have actually taken place when Lord Rama would have returned to Ayodhya after spending 14 year long exile, I visualize simple people of Ayodaya, dressed in khadi clothes, dancing and singing songs in praise of Lord Rama. During that night both sides of the paths leading to Ayodaya must have been lit with earthen diyas filled with desi ghee which is learnt to possess the properties to purifies air. They must have also made homemade sweets like halwa/kheer/ladoos etc. But just see how are we celebrating this great festival now? During Diwali night, one can feel as if one is inside a battle field. Old people or the ones suffering from some infirmities cannot have sound sleep throughout the night due to incessant sounds of crackers with varying frequencies. Bursting of some crackers resemble the sound of AK47/SLR bullets. Some burst like cannon shells. Some rockets line up the sky as if Agni or Trishul missiles...