Quality time with near and dear

Usually, it’s a family affair with all my sisters and cousins joining for lunch or dinner. But this year, I will be inviting my school friends for lunch at home. My kids are excited about the pattas. But since we have dogs at home we will not be bursting any loud crackers. I have also informed my children about the pollution due to bursting of firecrackers. Also, I will be wishing my friends from the film fraternity.

The best thing about Deepavali is the family get-together that doesn’t happen consistently. During my childhood days, we celebrated Deepavali for four days at my father’s hometown in Erode. After I started going to college, I started this new ritual with my friends — watching the FDFS (first-day first show) of Deepavali release! So, today, after having my mother’s sakkarai pongal, I am heading to Udhayam Theatre with my friends to watch Sarkar.   

When I was a kid, my thaatha used to take me to the local market and buy pattas. The school were shut for 2-3 days and I played cricket with my friends and cousins. Things have changed now. Films and music keep me busy. Though I love munching the food they make at home during Deepavali, I have cut it down drastically after I entered films. 

When I was in Class 10, my father gave me a Rs 100 note and asked me to burn it. He told me this is what I am doing by spending money on firecrackers and asked to spend money on something that gives me happiness. So, I started feeding the poor with my income.

Deepavali is one of my favourite festivals that I wanted to celebrate with family and friends. I love watching people lighting the diyas, kids running around and bursting crackers. It would be really great if a person can take some time off from the celebrations and do something thoughtful for a person out there. This act would make a lot of difference in other person’s life. 

Back in the days, we had a lot of independent houses and the whole street would get together to burst crackers and play games. After coming to the apartment complexes, the intensity of celebrations has subdued. The one ritual that I still follow is having the Deepavali marundhu (legiyam) that my mother makes. It helps to aid digestion of the rich food that we consume in the day.

I used to burst a lot of crackers when I was a kid. But as I grew up, I realised its harmful effects — both to the environment and humans — and stopped doing it. But I love decorating my home with beautiful diyas. My mother and I are planning to cook some delicacies like Mysore pak, murukku and gulab jamun for our family and relatives. After a few morning rituals, I will be visiting an orphanage and spending some time with the children, talking to them about the festival. 

— Yashika Aannand, Actor