‘Having kids makes Diwali a new experience altogether’

Samir Kochhar

“Ienjoy spending Diwali with family and friends. Usually I try making it to Delhi to my family home to meet the folks. Even in Mumbai we light the house up with diyas and candles. Have the evening puja at home post which we eat some yummy mithai and other goodies and one never fails to light at least two-three phuljhadis to remember the good ol’ firecracker days.

Having kids now makes Diwali a new experience altogether. They are super excited with everything going around. From shopping for things to decorating the house to sending out gifts plus opening gifts, munching on dry fruit and other goodies…Diwali has always been festive.

My best Diwali memories are growing up in Delhi when the air was cleaner; bursting firecrackers was such fun when I was young. I always looked forward to bursting crackers every Diwali and spent time with my family.

I remember there was a time when my uncles and aunts from different parts of the world visited us and all of us together along with my bunch of cousins had a lot of fun. Those were the old good times when we were given pocket money to buy crackers.

Obviously, we don’t burst crackers anymore but, yes those days were fun is what I can say. Also, as a kid I always looked forward to Diwali sweets, parties and celebrations.

Come Diwali, I look forward to parties, celebrations, drinks and fun with my friends. I really enjoy this festival.”