Diwali is only three days away now. We all are in the festive mood. A frenzy, an excitement can be felt all around. We got the house repainted a few days back and today I am going to be busy putting up the lights in all the balconies and over the entrance to my sweet little abode. An assortment of gifts has been purchased to distribute and hopefully, by this evening I will become a roadster for the better part of the next two days. Everyday atleast four-five people turn up to make sure that I am reminded of their presence in my life and my obligations to them. Diwali is a fantastic opportunity to regain lost business, to mend broken hearts and to re-establish discontinued relationships.

I am sure that almost all my friends who post here, shall also be going through the same frenzy which grips me, in this festive time. There is so much to take care of. As much as it’s a time to make yourself popular, there is also the risk of losing out on someone or some business if you fail to greet a contact with a proper gift and sweets etc. We sit together at dining tables with family members and discuss the worth of relations. Employees want to impress their bosses and bosses want to impress their clients in this season.

In short, we are all gripped by a binge, a strange madness and a fervour which is quite surprising and to an extent unnecessary. We are supposed to celebrate a festival and the sole purpose of celebration is to feel happy and make your dear ones happy. But are we really happy in this frenzy or do you really believe that all this festive fever is justified? I don’t think that all those who receive sweet boxes or other gifts from my side will be very happy with me or for that matter I would love all those who send the same to me. No, I bet not, its just a formality and a necessity so that you can prove to the world that you are alive, doing well in life and well connected.

Why don’t we go out on any major street in the city after ten PM. I am sure you would be able to see hundreds or maybe thousands of people lying on the pavement in the cold winter night trying to clutch the rug tightly so that to protect themselves from freezing to death. There are thousands of innocent children living in orphanages who never had any relatives giving them diwali gifts and whether you like it or not, there are thousands of old men and women lying lonely in their confinements in the old age homes. They are not lesser children of God. They are human beings who have been rendered orphans by the cruel destiny or old people who have been abandoned by the children whom they nurtured by their own blood. These parents have grown old and are a useless burden for their progressive children now. They don’t have any money or physical strength to serve their younger ones so they had to be abandoned.

We all talk here about how to celebrate diwali in a unique way. I am sure, concerned and intellectual people will talk about banning firecrackers or not doing shopping for diwali or so many other unique and appealing ways.

Frankly, is all that possible? I think its not. We are social people and we give in to temptations. Last year, I resolved not to buy crackers and I did not till 8 PM on diwali night. Then our less influential neighbour started bursting crackers and distributing them to the children in the society.

“Mr. Gupta, you are not bursting any crackers? Is something wrong?” comes the question from concerned souls.

“No, I will. I was so busy that I couldn’t buy any till now. I am on my way to the market to buy some now” I replied and in the next one hour, thousands of rupees were burnt to ensure that my neighbours knew that I celebrate diwali in style.

I am not against extra lighting or the shopping spree because in today’s practical world, all that is necessary to become successful. However, what I wish to emphasize is that we should also halt our wagonwheel for a second and introspect what exactly can be done so that we can bring a smile to someone while enjoying ourselves.

I am sure that no matter how modest our means be, each household spends a minimum of Rupees five thousand exclusively on celebrating diwali. Just think about the kind of money we can gather if each house just decides to donate 100 rupees to the society. We donate more than that to the local temple or church or any other religious body every month anyhow. Just this much donation from each house will be sufficient to provide food, clothes and care to thousands of homeless and luckless souls for the entire year. Just imagine the joy that an abandoned old soul will have if you just go and touch their feet and ask them to bless you on diwali. It won’t cost much but will give you sincere blessings and believe me the warmth and happiness, that you will feel in your heart will be much more than the one you will have if you receive an expensive gift from a snob.

Just give it a thought, can we squeeze in a 15 minute visit to an orphanage or an old age home in this busy diwali schedule or can we donate that 100 rupees?

That is something I intend to do this diwali. I will be really happy if some of my beloved readers can do the same. Let’s make a difference to someone else for a change this time!!

HAPPY DIWALI TO EVERYONE.

Enjoy diwali safely and God bless all of us.