<p> Elli avram, Actor<br /><br /></p>.<p>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’.” <br /><br /> Radhika Pandit, Actor<br /><br />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’.” <br /><br /> Parul yadav, Actor<br /><br />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.” <br /><br /> Nikki galrani, Actor<br /><br />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’.” <br /><br /> Rithvik dhanjani<br /> Actor and anchor<br /><br />“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 <br />noise pollution but it’s also being insensitive to the environment.” <br /><em><br />(As told to Nina C George)</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>
<p> Elli avram, Actor<br /><br /></p>.<p>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’.” <br /><br /> Radhika Pandit, Actor<br /><br />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’.” <br /><br /> Parul yadav, Actor<br /><br />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.” <br /><br /> Nikki galrani, Actor<br /><br />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’.” <br /><br /> Rithvik dhanjani<br /> Actor and anchor<br /><br />“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 <br />noise pollution but it’s also being insensitive to the environment.” <br /><em><br />(As told to Nina C George)</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>