The relative decline in cracker bursting has little to do with environmental activism
Kids (and adults) have more sources of distraction - internet, streaming video, 100+ channels on TV, smartphones
This has in part reduced the appeal of the "fun" element in festivals
Kids (and adults) have more sources of distraction - internet, streaming video, 100+ channels on TV, smartphones
This has in part reduced the appeal of the "fun" element in festivals
Both the Left and the Right react to this decline in cracker usage by mis-appraising the cause of decline
The Left pats itself on the back for creating this environmental consciousness
The Right bemoans the influence of the "Greens" and their anti-hindu orientation
The Left pats itself on the back for creating this environmental consciousness
The Right bemoans the influence of the "Greens" and their anti-hindu orientation
But the decline has little to do with politics
It has everything to do with the availability of more avenues for expending one's leisure time throughout the year
It has everything to do with the availability of more avenues for expending one's leisure time throughout the year
To my mind, for Deepavali to retain its preeminence on the Indian calendar, it has to emerge as something more than a religious festival
As the "holiday" season for Indians
Something akin to the period between Dec 20 to Jan 1 in the Western world where everybody takes off
As the "holiday" season for Indians
Something akin to the period between Dec 20 to Jan 1 in the Western world where everybody takes off
But that's hard to accomplish in India where the culture of the people is one against "holiday seasons"
Indians (including me) like to take some time off (the odd day here and there) throughout the year, instead of using up all holidays in a 2-week span
Indians (including me) like to take some time off (the odd day here and there) throughout the year, instead of using up all holidays in a 2-week span
Even the culture of "work free" weekends does not exist in India
Indians like to have their "holidays" everyday.
In the form of long chai-breaks. Samosa breaks at 4PM
But dont mind at all working to make up over weekends
A fundamentally different attitude relative to the West
Indians like to have their "holidays" everyday.
In the form of long chai-breaks. Samosa breaks at 4PM
But dont mind at all working to make up over weekends
A fundamentally different attitude relative to the West
Also we dont have the culture of undertaking "long" travels in India
Instead people like to use their "Paid time off" quotas by taking a Friday off every 3 weeks - use it to visit Parents who may be staying in a different city
Instead people like to use their "Paid time off" quotas by taking a Friday off every 3 weeks - use it to visit Parents who may be staying in a different city
It's a culture that values "relaxation" on a periodic basis. And not in large chunks
As opposed to the Western habit of switching off during the "holiday season"
Not a surprise why we dont see Diwali's emergence as THE holiday season
As opposed to the Western habit of switching off during the "holiday season"
Not a surprise why we dont see Diwali's emergence as THE holiday season
Given that an increasingly large proportion of educated Indians in the big cities are working for large MNCs, the appeal of Dec 20-Jan 1 as the holiday season has picked up in this constituency
To my mind this is bad news for Diwali - as the year-end period is now slowly overshadowing Diwali on the calendar of many yuppie Indians
Which is why I think we need to work towards making Diwali the holiday season, as opposed to Dec 20-Jan 1
Which is why I think we need to work towards making Diwali the holiday season, as opposed to Dec 20-Jan 1
