Ah, Diwali! The one festival that had us kids counting down the days with the same fervor as a NASA rocket launch. Forget about the elaborate rituals and the deep spiritual significance; for us pint-sized mischief-makers, Diwali was all about one thing – sheer unadulterated FUN. It was the time of the year when we turned into mini pyrotechnicians, fashionistas in new clothes and sugar monsters all rolled into one. We didn’t just celebrate Diwali; we were Diwali! So, grab your sparklers, folks and join me on a riotous journey down memory lane as we relive the Diwali of our childhood dreams, filled with crackers, sweets and everything in between. Hold onto your dhotis and dupattas; this one’s going to be a rollercoaster ride through nostalgia and laughter!🎆🕺🍬
As kids, our Diwali priorities were as clear as day – crackers, crackers and more crackers. The significance of the festival? Well, that was about as mysterious as the contents of a magician’s hat. We didn’t just buy crackers; we engaged in a strategic operation to secure the most awe-inspiring artillery in the neighborhood. Our discussions revolved around the crucial questions of which brand produced the loudest bangs, which ones painted the sky in the most vivid colors and, of course, how to sneakily negotiate for a few extra rupees from our parents to fund our explosive ambitions.
While the elders spoke of goddesses and blessings, we kids had our divine mission – to conquer the world of pyrotechnics, one “flowerpot” at a time. the joy of returning victorious from the firework store, clutching bags of potential noise pollution, as if we’d just won a lottery. Little did we know that we were creating our very own festival of lights, painting the night sky with our laughter and the sparkle of a thousand firecrackers. 😄🎇🧨
Battles of the ‘Lakshmi Bomb’:
How could we forget that daring act of lighting the “Lakshmi Bomb” from a safe distance? It was like a carefully choreographed dance of courage and fear. We’d hold that enormous agarbatti stick with trembling hands, our faces a mix of determination and trepidation.
With the slow burn of the agarbatti, we’d take a step back, pretending that we were the fearless masters of this explosive art. Inside, our hearts raced and our minds were a chaotic mess of “What if it bursts too soon?” and “Did I light it correctly?”
Then when it finally did burst into a magnificent shower of sparks and deafening cracks, we’d jump in surprise, but quickly regain our composure, all while boasting with a smirk, “Did you see that? Our Lakshmi Bomb was the best!”
Those were the moments that defined our Diwali adventures – a thrilling mix of fear and excitement that we’d eagerly relive year after year. 😄🎆🪔
“Siblings, The Diwali Pranksters: While we were busy showcasing our bravery with the mighty Lakshmi Bomb, our siblings were the covert agents of Diwali mischief. They’d sneakily light up a Lakshmi Bomb, a Chilli Bomb or even a Sound Bomb right behind us and we’d remain blissfully unaware. The unsuspecting explosion would jolt us and we’d leap in the air, feeling like characters straight out of an action movie. We’d turn around with wide-eyed innocence, pretending we had no idea what just happened. But deep down, we knew – it was a well-executed sibling prank and they had us fooled again!”
“Sibling Rivalry – Diwali Style: Diwali was not just a festival of lights but also a battleground for sibling supremacy. Each year, my brother and I engaged in the age-old competition of who could light more crackers. Armed with sparklers, flower pots and a whole artillery of explosives, we’d embark on our mission to outdo each other.
The scoreboard was simple – the number of burnt-out sparklers and the remnants of flower pots scattered around. The victory dance of the sibling with the higher count was a sight to behold, complete with exaggerated high-fives and bragging rights that lasted until the next Diwali. We didn’t just burst crackers; we ignited sibling rivalry, and for those few days, it was a battle for the title of ‘Diwali Demolition King.'”
“The Great Sparkler Scare:
Ah, Diwali – a festival of joy, lights, and well, sheer terror for some of us kids. As my friends and I gathered to celebrate, I couldn’t help but feel a little jittery. You see, I had a peculiar fear of those seemingly harmless sparklers.
My friends, mischievous as ever, decided it was time to play a prank on me. They handed me a sparkler and with a sly grin, I asked them, ‘Wait, do these things burst too?’ You can imagine the chorus of laughter that erupted. My friends found it utterly hilarious that I believed those tiny sticks of light were secretly plotting to explode.
From that day forward, I became known as the Sparkler Sleuth, ever vigilant, making sure those sneaky sparklers didn’t catch me off guard. While my friends never let me forget that moment, it added an extra layer of laughter to our Diwali celebrations. So, yes, Diwali is not just about lights; it’s about conquering your fears, one sparkler at a time!”
Stay tuned for more humour in the next article!
Author,
Sivalenka Neeraja
