Diwali Round the Town

The festive season just never ends in a city like Mumbai with celebrations coming one after the other. After Navrathri, Karwa Chouth, it's  now time for the Festival of Lights, Diwali. The Rangoli, the Diyas and most of all, the Firecrackers that vary in different sizes, all of this makes Diwali a veritably beautiful festival that gifts a merry time with loved ones.   

Along with the festival comes a lot of memories that remains with us for a lifetime. Tellybuzz took our Telly stars for a roller coaster ride to their memories of Diwali and they joyfully shared it with us.

Raunaq Ahuja:

What is it that you await the most in Diwali?
Family get-together is the most awaited moment during this festival, as this is the time when everyone comes home and spends time together after a long time.

Any memorable experience of Diwali/naughty stuffs that you did?
Diwali has always been positive for me and no naughty stuffs.

Lighting crackers is a task that all wait for during Diwali, have you had any everlasting memory with the stuff?
When I was small I was lighting one of the bombs that we had bought and that too with the phuljhadi and I didn't know when the bomb got lit and it burst. For two days I could hear only a buzzing sound in my ear and that was really disturbing.  

Any depressing Diwali till date?
I had the most depressing Diwali when I was about twelve years when my chacha passed away on the day of the festival. Also this year I met with an accident, so this is year it's a painful Diwali.

Best Diwali gift that you have received till date?
I got the best Diwali gift this year as my sister returned from Dubai after nearly one and a half years and I am really happy that she is back.

Any special dish that you like having during Diwali?
I like all the sweets that are prepared during Diwali; my favourite sweet is Gulab Jamun.

Ragini Khanna:

What is it that you await the most in Diwali?
The lights and the beautifully dressed people are the most beautiful things I enjoy and it is a very happy festival.

Any memorable experience of Diwali/naughty stuffs that you did
In real, I am a very silent person and pretty innocent and not at all troublesome.

Lighting crackers is a task that all wait during Diwali, have you had any everlasting memory with the stuff?
I hate bursting crackers and I see to it that I light only Phuljhadis. While bursting crackers I m extremely careful because once my brother's friend's hand got burnt while bursting crackers. That sight has haunted me very badly and since then, I am really careful with those stuffs.

Any depressing Diwali till date?
With God's grace I have had no depressing Diwali till date. There was one Diwali where I wanted to burst crackers just to know why people get so geared up for that. I did burst a lot of crackers that day and I could see my money being exploded every time I burst a cracker.   

Best Diwali gift that you have received till date?
Every Diwali my mother used to get a special gift for me and I am waiting for this year's.

Any special dish that you like having during Diwali?
I am a big foodie and I love all the sweets prepared during Diwali;I love Motichoor ke Laddoo and Kajoo Burfi.

Gaurav Khanna:

What is it that you await the most in Diwali?
When I was in Kanpur I used to wait for the weather that comes along with Diwali, because it turns to be a pleasant climate and that was the time we used to burst crackers from the terrace.

Any memorable experience of Diwali/naughty stuffs that you did?
This is my favourite festival, so no naughtiness during this time. That's the time when everyone enjoys and there is a give and take relation. During this festival all my family members play card games together and it's a great time together.  

Lighting crackers is a task that all wait during Diwali, have you had any everlasting memory with the stuff?
Bursting crackers is the most awaited moment during Diwali and that's the fun people have. But while bursting crackers I have always been cautious and serious.

Any depressing Diwali till date?
No depressing Diwali till now and thank God for that

Best Diwali gift that you received till date?
I always wait for the cash that my elders used to give

Any special dish that you like having during Diwali?
I am a big time foodie and I love sweets and I love Malai Makhan which is a very special sweet we get in Kanpur and my dad always used to get it for me in the airport whenever I go home.

Aasiya Kazi:

What is it that you await the most in Diwali?
The crackers and the sweets during Diwali have always interested me and the family get together is great.  Actually the festival, on the whole is great with Rangoli and other stuffs.

Any memorable experience of Diwali/naughty stuffs that you did?
Since I am a Muslim, I have always celebrated the festival at my friend's place and all those have been memorable experiences.  

Lighting crackers is a task that all wait during Diwali, have you had any everlasting memory with the stuff?
I have never burnt crackers as I am really scared of them and I have always watched people bursting crackers from far. Also I am an environment friendly person and hence don't like polluting the air.

Any depressing Diwali till date?
Not at all

Best Diwali gift that you received till date?
Actually I always got what I wanted and I am really thankful for that. This time I bought my first laptop during Diwali

Any special dish that you like having during Diwali?
I like all kinds of sweets

Neil Bhatt:

What is it that you await the most in Diwali?
Diwali has always been a 'friends and family' affair for me as I do not get time to meet them because of my busy schedule.

Any memorable experience of Diwali/naughty stuffs that you did?
We had done a lot of mischief with the crackers when we were kids. We used to collect chemical from the bombs and fill it in the matchboxes after which we would light it inside the garbage bins kept on the streets.  

Lighting crackers is a task that all wait during Diwali, have you had any everlasting memory with the stuff?
I did not have a tough time with crackers as I have been very careful after an unfortunate incident that had happened to one of my neighbours. We had a very good looking neighbour and during Diwali he was doing something similar to what we did with the chemical and something went wrong because of which his entire face got burnt. The incident happened when I was in seventh standard and he is still recovering from it. 

Any depressing Diwali till date?
Diwali has always been a positive one for me and I am lucky not to have any depressing Diwali till date.

Best Diwali gift that you have received till date
As a Kid I used to wait for the envelops of cash that our elders gave during Diwali, but now its me who has to give (laughs)

Any special dish that you like having during Diwali?
I love sweets and my favourites are Kajoo Katli and Mango Burfi

Ankita Sharma:

What is it that you await the most in Diwali?
The sweets

Any memorable experience of Diwali/naughty stuffs that you did?
Once during Diwali mom asked me to distribute sweets to my neighbours and I was just outside my house near the road when a bomb burst right next to me. For two days I could not hear properly as all I could hear was a buzzing sound in my ear.  

Lighting crackers is a task that all waits during Diwali, have you had any everlasting memory with the stuff?
When I was in the third standard, I saw boys lighting 'chakris' and jumping over it to show their smartness. Once I too felt like doing the same thing but I stepped onto it barefoot and I burnt my feet.  

Any depressing Diwali till date?
When I was little there was a neighbour of ours who was a very good friend and we used to burst crackers together during Diwali. For one Diwali he lit the bomb and put it in a tin. For some time it didn't burst and to check that he went near when it suddenly got burst.  As a result, his face got completely burnt and he did a plastic surgery after which he is not fully recovered. He still has the scars. I request everybody to be careful every time while bursting crackers.

Best Diwali gift that you received till date?
As a kid I always loved Barbie Dolls and when I was in UKG my mother took me to a toyshop and left me outside and asked me to close my eyes  so that I don't see what she is buying.  But I already knew what she was going to buy was a Barbie Doll, but acted as though I never knew. When Diwali came she gave me the doll and even though I was acting in front of her, I was excited to see the doll in my hands.

Any special dish that you like having during Diwali?
I love Kajoo Ki Burfi and this time when I go to Delhi for Diwali I will have Rajma Chawal, Aloo Gobi, Sarso ka Saag, all prepared by mom and also Karele prepared by my Naani.

Sushant Rajput:

What is it that you await the most in Diwali?
Diwali is the festival of lights and I await Diwali for the lights

Any memorable experience of Diwali/naughty stuffs that you did?
When I was in Delhi I had a neighbour who was about my age and he was my biggest competitor in getting up early and bursting crackers. I always used to wait for him to wake up and as soon as he gets out of the house I used to light rockets and send it towards his house. Also sixteen years back, the time I had spent with my family had been memorable and will always remain in me.

Lighting crackers is a task that all waits during Diwali, have you had any everlasting memory with the stuff?
I like bursting crackers like the flowerpot and rockets and I have always remained careful while bursting crackers.

Any depressing Diwali till date?
In 2002 my mom expired at the time of Diwali.

Best Diwali gift that you received till date?
This year Ankita gifted me a Gilbo watch

Any special dish that you like having during Diwali?
I love all kinds of sweets and I don't discriminate between them

Parul Chauhan:

What is it that you await the most in Diwali?
Sweets

Any memorable experience of Diwali/naughty stuffs that you did?
Since my parents are in UP, last year I had to celebrate Diwali with my brother and on that day I called up my mother and asked about the rituals and the arrangements that have to be done on the occasion. After all the prep my friends from colony and I decided to burst crackers in front of the house of our neighbours. They were those people who always make faces whenever we used to do a buzz of activities in the streets. We lighted the crackers just in front of their gate.

Lighting crackers is a task that all waits during Diwali, have you had any everlasting memory with the stuff?
When I was in UP I never used to burst crackers and last year I compensated by bursting umpteen number of crackers. I used to light all kinds of crackers, but when it comes to bombs, I just light it and run without even looking  

Any depressing Diwali till date?
Not one till now

Best Diwali gift that you received till date?
After Bidaai I have got everything that I have asked for.

Any special dish that you like having during Diwali?
We make Poori Sabji and Kachori in UP during the festival and I love having that.


Reporter and Author: Saranya Valsarajan