Spirit of Diwali

Illuminated lights put up near the balconies is when I reminisce about the good old days when I spent Diwali with my Indian fans near my neighbourhood. Armouring the delirium in some cities of Dubai where people reside getting decked up for another dazzling festive occasion is very evident.

Gushing with my naughty friends to partake in lighting crackers and grabbing that bonbon. What a close-knit family we all were but I won’t get those days back as times have changed with the way celebrations have turned out to be.

The days leading up to Diwali were filled with a buzz that no algorithm can replicate. Mothers would pull out their age-old recipes, their fingers moving with memory, not measuring spoons. Fathers would climb rickety stools to string fairy lights that blinked unevenly but to us, they were nothing short of magical.

Children, high on sugar and the thrill of the festival, would gather in groups, crackers in hand, mischief in eyes. It was all in festive fun and we all used to run after hearing lighting crackers. The sky lit up, and so did we.

A festival of lights that brings joy and although I am from a Christian creed Diwali is one of my favourite festivals after Christmas.

Mathew Litty,

Dubai