Elli avram, Actor
This is my fourth ‘Deepavali’ since I moved to India. This year, I hope to draw a ‘rangoli’ and decorate the house with my Indian sister Shwetha. I am against bursting crackers because it not only pollutes the environment but also affects animals. ‘Deepavali’ is also a time when I allow myself to fully indulge in my favourite sweets such as ‘gulab jamun’ and ‘motichur laddoo’. I don’t watch my diet then. Towards the evening, I light up the house with ‘diyas’.”
Radhika Pandit, Actor
The mode of celebrating ‘Deepavali’ has changed over the years. As a child, I would wake up early and after an oil bath, my brother and I would head out to burst crackers. I was fond of the smaller crackers but never liked the ‘atom bombs’ and the heavier ones. We would have a stream of guests coming home with gifts and sweets. Today, I’ve become more creative and decorate the house with the little craft pieces that I make. I buy clay lamps and paint them myself. I’ve also made a bunch of lights using plastic bottles, that I’ve hung around the house. This year, I will also try my hand at making ‘Kaju pista roll’.”
Parul yadav, Actor
However busy, I make it a point to be home for ‘Deepavali’. I am in charge of drawing the ‘rangoli’ and lighting the lamps at home. We make seven special dishes during ‘Deepavali’. Among them, I join my mother in making ‘mohanthal’, a traditional Gujarati sweet, and ‘gughra’ which resembles a dumpling with fillings of almonds, raisins and ‘khoya’. I wake up at 4 am on ‘Deepavali’ and after a round of ‘puja’, we start the preparations and the celebrations continue till late.”
Nikki galrani, Actor
As a child, I used to love lighting sparklers but was terrified of the bigger crackers that made loud noise. I remember I would light a cracker and just freeze there until my father would come and lift me away. I also enjoyed gorging on the sweets made by my grandmother Rani. This is my first ‘Deepavali’ in Chennai and this year, like every other year, I will decorate the house with ‘diyas’. It’s overwhelming to see the sight of so many beautiful ‘diyas’.”
Rithvik dhanjani
Actor and anchor
“I am fortunate that my family is visiting me this ‘Deepavali’. My mother makes a few dishes that are special during ‘Deepavali’, such as ‘kheer puri’ and ‘bhaji’ and ‘pakoras’. Food and new clothes are a big part of the festival. I stopped bursting crackers a few years ago after I bought a pet. Bursting crackers not only adds to air and
noise pollution but it’s also being insensitive to the environment.”
(As told to Nina C George)