It’s time for fun and festivity! Diwali, the festival of lights, is just around the corner. It’s time to illuminate the house with lights, put up decorations, buy new clothes, bring out some firecrackers and prepare a variety of mouthwatering sweets. Families and friends get together every year to celebrate this festival with gaiety. Children, in particular, eagerly await Diwali, one of the most popular festivals of the country.
Orissa POST asked some children to share their Diwali plans.
Popular Odia cinema and TV actor Aadyasha Choudhry, a Class VI student of DAV Public School, Kalinganagar said, “On Diwali, I enjoy playing indoor games with my friends and family. We generally play games like hide and seek, passing the buck, dumb charades, word scrambler, and musical chair. For me, it is an occasion to socialise with my friends as I hardly get any time on other days because of my shooting schedule.
“In the evening, I enjoy bursting firecrackers with my family. I light the firecrackers only under my parents’ supervision to avoid mishaps. My parents always keep a bucket of water on the terrace where I burst crackers,” she added.
Purbika Mahasuara, a LKG student of Kids’ Kingdom School, says, “Diwali is a festival of lights. My mother said that we will celebrate it by illuminating our house and surroundings with lights and diyas. My Baba has bought smokeless and noiseless firecrackers for me. Besides, we have a new member in our home this time – Ronny, my doggie. My Baba told me that dogs tend to get scared by firecrackers. So, I would not like to upset him at any cost by bursting crackers. I will play with him in the evening and relish the pitha and kheer prepared by my mother before going to bed.”
Sachit Dash, a Class I student of Delhi Public School, says, “Last year, I celebrated Diwali at my uncle’s house where I had loads of fun by bursting firecrackers. But the next day, I had an asthma attack. My mother and uncle had to spend sleepless nights for me. Since I suffer from this respiratory disorder, I have decided not to burn crackers this time. So, this year I am going to celebrate a crackers-free Diwali. Besides, we have shifted to Delhi. Though the winter season has not even begun in the capital city, Delhi is already covered with smog and the smoke from firecrackers will only worsen the situation. My father told me that during Diwali, the pollution goes up by more than thirty per cent due to bursting of firecrackers in Delhi. So, I don’t want to choke myself and others around me by bursting crackers. Crackers are not the only way to celebrate Diwali. I will decorate my house with clay diyas and help my mother in making gulab jamun. Last but not the least, I will spend the day with my father who loves me like anything.”
Anshuman Samantray, a Class VII student of Saraswati Shishu Mandir from Cuttack, said, “I eagerly wait for this occasion as we get a variety of sweets and other dishes during Diwali. The festival offers every child an opportunity to learn something or the other from their seniors. I help in cleaning and decorating our home with my parents and other members of the household. Diwali for me is an occasion to make new friends, exchange gifts, and get involved in traditional and cultural activities.”
“In the evening all my siblings and other family members go to the terrace to burst crackers. Our elders keep a strict watch on our activities. We, the junior members of the family, always obey our elders and take necessary precautions while bursting crackers,” added Anshuman.
Diwali is the most enjoyable festival for Sruti Mohapatra, a Class V student of DAV Public School in Puri. “We all eagerly wait for Diwali every year. This year, it will be more special as I expect my cousins to visit us. My mother prepares a variety of delicious dishes and we impatiently wait for evening to burst firecrackers. This year, my father has decided to buy crackers that generate less smoke and sound. According to him, bursting crackers is waste of money at the cost of environment. My mother has bought me a pure cotton dress for the occasion. I feel all kids should observe the festival with caution and not use noisy firecrackers.” PNN
