..and as i type this, i can hear today’s show getting started.. Yes, a few days back, I had written about festivals becoming homogeneous in the urban milieu, but I was answered by color lit night skies and sounds that could make a world war proud!! Deepavali, from its humble of origins of ‘festival of lights’ has become an extravaganza of light and sound!!
I had this (perhaps strange) perception that the slum behind our apartment would have been the biggest culprit in the neighbourhood, but I was in for a surprise when i ventured out into the balcony. Only a single house in the slum was bursting crackers, and those were only ‘rockets’ whose only audio contribution is a small ‘whoosh’. On the other side, an apartment complex, where the monthly rental is anywhere between 75k to a few lakhs, had embarked on this ‘break the decibel record every second’ project. I missed having a good war game on the comp, the sound effects would have been just awesome!!
I wonder how many crackers my childhood Deepavali allowance would get me now. Perhaps, half a cracker. But i had fun then, and excitement. I see today’s kids excited too, after all it is an avenue to establish superiority. No, not like when I was a kid, and the superiority contests were of bravery – who would light the cracker, who would hold the cracker longest and so on, but more of the ‘how many crackers did your dad buy for you?’ kind. I’m glad to see their parents having fun too, and living their second childhood. They ask their friends, “so, how much did you spend for diwali?”
It is perhaps a testament to a changed world order – from one of sharing to one of selfishness and one upmanship. Deepavali is indeed a festival of lights, i ranted about it, and now feel light 😀
until next time, the sweets don’t make me feel light though!!
These days. I’m glad for any festivity, no matter how loud.
Sajjanpur is a must watch, if you haven’t seen it already.
How expensive are fireworks these days! a box of fireworks cost almost 50 quid for a box * yikes *
I remember the days when we were taken to the park for a large fireworks display, wish they did that near my place – would save me spending all this money!! But I love the colour and sound of it all even when it makes me jump in the middle of the night.
Happy Diwali (final day today so it’s still acceptable to greet)
🙂
oooh. i remember how loud everything was on Diwali. then we would go up to the terrace and the whole sky would be lit up! that was so cool! lol
havent seen a “diwali night” in aaaaages…. although 4th of July here was pretty spectacular!!
That spirit of sharing changed long back. Showmanship has replaced sharing. And of course you can also add sundry marketing schemes, special gifts to people ( of (sic) eminence), watching sundry movies on a sundry channels…
Its reeking sundries Manu ! Huh ! For 75 K a month, there has to be some noise..!
Well, nevertheless, belated Deepawali wishes.