Ever since I started to understand my surroundings, people, things; Diwali has been a festival filled with fun, crackers, noise, food and all sorts of masti. My young days have seen celebrations from before a month; young boys cracking bigger shots and kids cracking flower pots (Anar), sparkles (phuljhadi), chakras, rockets etc. I get scared of the crackers and the noise but I love watching the “Athishbaziya” (fireworks). By then nothing else would strike except that everyone is happy.
Diwali, known as a festival of lights; culturally and religiously celebrated by the Hindu people on the high note. This emerged as a victory of Lords over Demons, my friends say. Well, the history is much known to all and it’s nothing new. And I’m not here to talk anything new about Diwali rituals or stuffs.
In fact, I have been noticing things from my experience, happening on this day, which made me think about the atypical patterns of the humans. Festivals generally are a synonym of joy, sharing and togetherness of family and friends. Earlier people would buy firecrackers for thousands of bucks, prepare sweets and authentic dishes, share with friends and relatives with joy and feel contented. Gradually the giving became reduced, minds got narrow, shrinking hearts, selflessness decreased and selfishness increased.
Competitions blow on the amount of “kachras” from the crackers fired in each house and areas. These days buying crackers is a matter of pride, ego and show off; “you know, my papa got my crackers for 5000 bucks” (with an overbearing attitude face), where they did not realize that those 5000 bucks are going to be nowhere in a day. Parents’, teaching the child value of money is more important and it starts with YOU.
I know a rich and sophisticated family in my apartment; their maid’s son Lakshman was seen crying this morning for a new dress and crackers. I could not imagine the worst feeling he must be going through. There are many more Lakshman’s who also wish to celebrate Diwali like all and end up having nothing. Such people tend to get depressive as they only get “NOTHING” every time. Their expectations from life fade away, belief from god erases. I sometimes wonder, will their life be the same till death?
There’s another scene where we could see few Kids and Adolescents torturing animals; tying crackers with a thread onto dog’s tails, lighting the cracker behind cows and other animals and scare them, fire a matchstick or a cracker in a post box. There are Teens going in bikes with rash driving in the night and shouting; disturbing the aged people; having more risk-taking behaviors, lighting up the crackers in hands and throwing thinking it’s cool to do so. They don’t understand the seriousness of even losing their lives and find it more fun way of playing with it. Those are most likely end up having conduct problems. People with such impulsivity in behavior are more prone to develop it as their personality. To them, it’s high time parents get them on track as these behaviors are just “HEIGHTS”. Parents are cautioned to look after their child with the above impulsive features.
It’s understandable that firing crackers are the significance of this festival; but with high explosion crackers, birds and animals are affected. It’s good to keep your pet at the safe place. If you have kids at home who are hyperactive or people with Intellectual Problems, it is advisable to not let them near the hazardous crackers.
On another side, men who are dependent on alcohol and other substance, who search for occasions to drink, do not make “Diwali” an occasion to drink; at least giving respect to this auspicious day would not cost anything but a drink.
Money can buy a new dress, crackers, sweets and other enjoyments; let’s share them with them who do not have any reason to smile but still, they do. This Diwali, let’s take a pledge to burn out our ego, fake pride, jealousy, envy along with the crackers. With all this, people should bury their stress and unwanted thoughts too.
Festivals are being celebrated in different parts of the world in different ways with regard to culture, ethnicity, rituals and more. And they are created for human togetherness and showing humanity on each other.
Mental Health matters!!
A Happy and Prosperous Diwali!!