By Rituparna Sengupta Basu
The victory of good over evil and hope over despair – the most awaited festival of the year, Diwali is at the door. Feeling excited? Firecrackers, ladoos, lights, rangolis, fun, rituals and togetherness, all these add up to the festive spirit. So, how your beloved stars celebrate these festival of lights? Let’s Find out…
Dalip Tahil (Actor)
Diwali is the festival of lights. It is that time of the year when we remind ourselves to illuminate the path to our souls. My Diwali will be almost the same as every other day which begins with Yoga in the morning and meditation in the evening, and the family will hold a small pooja at home.
I believe every day should be a green day. Particularly during Diwali, we could be a little more sensitive since lots of firecrackers are burst which leaves behind a trail of waste and smoke. However, right after Diwali, we should embark upon Swachh Bharat and try to clean up our immediate surroundings as much as we can. We should also try and restrain the use of firecrackers, and maybe just as a token of the festivities light up a couple of sparklers.
Rohitashv Gour(Actor)
Diwali is one of the most important festivals because it signifies the day when Lord Ram came back to Ayodhya after 14 years of Vanvas. The Indians all over the world celebrate it fondly. I don’t play cards and there was a time when I used to burn crackers. We used to have a competition about who would bring more crackers. But from the time I started understanding about pollution, I stopped doing it. I will be conscious of my diet during this Diwali. Earlier, it was totally the opposite. I used to eat a lot but now I am a little health conscious. We do Laxmi Poojan at home for bringing in positivity and goodness at home.
Ram Kamal Mukherjee (Author turned Filmmaker)
For me, Diwali means Kali Puja. As a Bengali, we would celebrate this festive season with 14 Saag (green leaves) and 14 diyas (candles) one day before Kali Puja. In our Kolkata house, we used to celebrate Kali Puja. I have such wonderful memories from my childhood. From decorating the idol of Ma Kali to preparing for puja, aarti and delicious bhog, we used to have a grand celebration.
This puja was initiated by my father Jaydeb Mukherjee. After I shifted to Mumbai almost 20 years ago, things changed. My father expired in 2009 and now my mother can’t take the stress anymore due to health reason. So my wife Sarbani and I do Kali Puja at our Mumbai residence, then light candles with my son Rian. We distribute sweets and diyas to our neighbours. Mostly we prefer Indian outfit and serve vegetarian food without onion and garlic to our guests. We have pulao, paneer kaliya, chana dal, aamshotto khejur chatni, five types of bhaja, payesh, mishti doi and five kinds of mishti.
Meera Deosathle (Vidya)
I will celebrate Diwali by beginning the day at a temple with my mother and lighting my first diya there. Then I want to spend the rest of the day with my mother and close friends. I am planning to gift a small gold pendant for my mother and make the festival even more special for her. I would want to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous Diwali and would request everyone to not burst crackers.
Ishita Dutta (Actress, Bepanah Pyaar)
Diwali is a festival that brings the entire family together. We have planned a Diwali party for our close family and friends and will be attending a few card parties too. Since we will also be busy shooting, the celebration will begin on the set! I don’t believe in bursting crackers during Diwali, so instead, I decorate my house with a lot of diyas, colourful lights and candles. I also love celebrating the auspicious day of Dhanteras, when we go and buy something new like gold or silver because it is believed to be very lucky.
Simone Singh ( Actress, Bahu Begum)
I’m going home to visit my father this Diwali. Around Diwali, there are a lot of parties we attend but, on the day, it’s more of a quiet family evening for us with rangoli, diyas and lots of festive food.
Aritra Das (producer)
Diwali or Kali Pujo is as special as Durga Puja to me, so in Diwali, I always prefer to wear traditional dress e.g kurta pyjama. Not white but colourful. This Diwali I am in Mumbai so will celebrate with my family (Ram da, Sarbani di and Rian). Here Ramda performs small kali puja at home so there will be bhog and then we might go for pandal hopping. Will not burst crackers but will light up with colourful diyas at home.
I love motichur laddo, dry fruits, sweets, chakli etc. In the main course I would love to have mutton kosha and pulao but as I mentioned there will be puja at home so will have pulao or khichdi, vegetarian dishes and in sweets chutney and mishti doi.
Rehaan Roy
For me, Diwali is a festival of happiness. The best part about Diwali is spending quality time with your whole family and friends. Certainly, I’m going to spend this Diwali with my friends. I would not think at all about my diet these days as it’s all about eating food, especially sweets. I also love to decorate my house with lights and candles.
However, I have decided not to burn sound crackers as that hurts the animals. I have a pet at home and I can truly relate to it. So, I would request all my fans to please avoid burning sound crackers. Instead spread happiness and make this occasion a festival of happiness and prosperity for everyone including the animals.
Daljit Kaur
I was born on Diwali morning so that’s why my name is Deepa. I am obviously close to this festival. I love to make a rangoli, decorate my house with candles and diyas and clean up my house. I love inviting my friends over too. Playing cards is not allowed at my place. I have tried playing at my friend’s place but I am pathetic at it, so I just help my friends in cheating. I will definitely eat whatever comes my way as it’s my birthday!
Arjun Bijlani
Diwali is an opportunity to spend quality time with your family and friends. It also means doing Laxmi Poojan at home. I celebrate it at home and later may go out with friends. My son Ayaan loves to celebrate Diwali. I also enjoy shopping. I don’t diet but I eat carefully.
Roop Durgapal (Actress)
Diwali is one of my favourite festival, I love lights & I always try to spread lights around me with joy & laughter. But frankly speaking this year I’m not in the mood to celebrate Diwali coz I have lost my mother just a month back. Although I’ll surely lite up Diya’s at my home and do all the rituals of Lakshmi Pooja so that my mamma be happy looking at me from up above heaven. As I said I’m not so enthusiastic this year. However, I believe their is nothing better for an Indian girl than an Indian attire for Diwali. So I’ll go for a saree. Diwali is all about good foods & a lot of sweets but its difficult to manage time for cooking between the shoots. So I’ll get sweets from the market but will try to make my favourite Gulab Jamun at home.
Lovey Sasan (Actress)
I will celebrate Diwali in Toronto in 2019 with our Canadian friends, this is going to be special as it’s my first Diwali after my wedding, we are making a lot of Indian sweets as I personally love sweets. Attire for Diwali would be an Indian dress. Choice of food would be widespread of Indian dishes.
Roshmi Banik (Entrepreneur & actress)
This year it’s going to be my first ever Diwali in Mumbai so it’s extremely special for me as I’ll celebrate it at my Mumbai home with family. Since I’m leaving for Delhi on Sunday night itself so couldn’t plan something that extraordinary. However, will do puja and havan at home and celebrate the evening with close friends and my family who is here just for the occasion.
