Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Some famous names on their best Diwali ever
SHABANA AZMI actor
It8217;s difficult to say which has been my best Diwali since all of them have been precious. This time though it8217;s nice to note the lack of noisy crackers and I think this is the effort of NGOs who have sensitised children about not using too many loud and polluting crackers. Diwali is also the time I miss my father Shaukat Azmi since he began the tradition by bringing anaars and charkas. We always celebrate all four days, there is a tradition of decoration with marigold flowers, earthen lamps and rangoli. I have also eaten mithai like its going out of style, Diwali is a time of complete gorging.
My best memory of Diwali is when I used to burn fire crackers on the 11th floor of my Cuffe Parade house with all my drivers8212;Diwali breaks all class boundaries. For me every day is Diwali with the lights that I design and I must say the decorations are getting better every year especially lanterns. Dadar is selling some really good stuff this year.
TANUJA CHANDRA filmmaker
My most fun Diwalis were the ones I spent as a child. We would travel to Lucknow to be with relatives, eating lots of unhealthy festive food, running around with cousins. Diwali lost its charm as I grew older. Now it8217;s more an off-day when you finish pending work.
TAPUR CHATTERJEE model
Since I8217;m a Bengali, Kali Pooja is more of a celebration for us. And I remember my father used to make the crackers at home.
ATUL DODIYA artist
Friends normally go out of Mumbai during Diwali because of the October heat, but I have a family tradition of not leaving the city during Diwali. We meet up with friends and with our own people with the usual mithai and lamps. When I was very young I8217;d help my sister and my neighbours with tips on rangoli because my artistic instincts had surfaced as early as that. I8217;ve always been in favour of less firecrackers and more lights. For me, Diwali means the season changes, the monsoon gives up to sunny days and slowly winter creeps in, I love cleaning the house arrange my books and art materials to start on new canvases after the festive season.
SUCHITRA PILLAI actor
My most memorable Diwali is the one I spent with friends in Pavna two years ago. It was a low-key affair, with close friends, crackers and good food. Diwali8217;s never been a very noisy thing for me.
