Diwali or Deepavali marks the victory of good over evil and is the most widely celebrated festival in India. Also called the Festival of Lights, (not of sound), Diwali is spread across six days in various parts of the country. This year, the main Diwali festival falls on October 23. Apart from lining up the entire house with beautiful diyas and candles, people burst firecrackers. Worshippers of Lakshmi decorate their homes with lights and flowers, arrange for social events and distribute sweets among friends and family. Owing to India’s cultural diversity, the festival has a distinct regional touch in different parts of the country. In north India, people celebrate Diwali to mark the victory of Lord Ram over the demon King Ravana and his return to Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakhsman after 14 years of exile. Among the Sikhs, the festival of lights hold a special importance because on this day, the sixth Guru Hargobind Singh who was held captive under Mughal emperor Jahangir, returned to Amritsar. In the south, the festival is called Deepavali and marks the defeat of demon Narakasura. The festival also holds a special importance to farmers across the country since Diwali marks the end of the harvest season, which is why the farmers celebrate it.
This year in Meghalaya FM Radio and other media has been appealing to revelers not to burst loud crackers as they tend to terrify animals like dogs and birds, apart from causing discomfort to the elderly, the sick and infants. The Supreme Court has already held that crackers should not be burst between 10 pm to 6 pm. This year it appears there is more compliance but we have to wait and watch until October 30 when the Festival is celebrated across all communities. Nevertheless, we expect sanity to prevail. After all, Diwali is a Festival of Lights not of Sound.