Ajay, Tamannaah, Taapsee, Rajkummar, others open on their Diwali plans this year
The festival of lights holds a special place in everyone’s heart. While some may be reminded of a warm Diwali from their childhood days, for some others, it is a happy time as they get to celebrate with their loved ones. And, our favourite celebrities are no different; just like us, the festival is a chance for them to get away from the hectic routine of everyday life and, more importantly, go back to the warmth and love of a family atmosphere. So on the occasion of the festival that marks Lord Rama and Sita’s return to their kingdom, stars spell out what the festival looks like for them this year.
Of rangolis and diyas
Diwali is about meeting friends and family and having a feast together — good, big family dinners, making rangolis, decorating the house with diyas, lights and thanking god for whatever we have been blessed with. This Diwali, I will take a break from my schedule, fly down home to Delhi and have a lovely meal with my family and relatives. I will make rangoli with my sister and decorate the house with diyas. I light diyas and candles and concentrate on spending time with the family instead of contributing to noise and air pollution.
— Taapsee Pannu
SWEET TREATS
Diwali is a festival to be celebrated with loads of love. Eat lots of mithais on this day. I am all for a pollution-free Diwali of course. So you need not burst crackers; have a safe Diwali!
— Reitesh Deshmukh
HOME BECKONS
Every year, we celebrate Diwali in Chandigarh with family and this year also, I am going to Chandigarh. I don’t burst crackers. My cousins used to indulge in these things and I used to stop them. I have always been socially aware and air pollution is a huge problem. But as shagun, you could burst one or two crackers.
— Ayushmann Khurrana
A WORKING DIWALI
This will be a working Diwali for me as I am shooting for Fanney Khan and it’s going really well. Diwali is my favourite festival but I avoid crackers because I believe we should contribute to protecting nature. To express your happiness, you don’t have to burst crackers. It’s a festival of lights, so have sweets and be happy!
— Rajkummar Rao
CRAVING FAMILY TIME
Like anybody, I love spending time with my family on Diwali. I hate working on this day and it’s happened on three occasions in the five years since I have been somewhat famous. This year, too, I am hoping to spend some time with my parents and brothers. Diwali, for us, meant starting with a puja at our chacha’s workplace, and then catching up with extended family over an elaborate lunch. There’s a small puja at home as well and then we light diyas and candles all over the place. People visit us with gifts for dinner. That’s usually it.
— Richa Chadha
COLOURS GALORE
I was very busy for the last two years, thus I could not celebrate Diwali. But this year, I have some time, so I am happy. I will celebrate with my parents, relatives and friends. I would definitely prefer celebrating an eco-friendly Diwali, and would also request everyone to celebrate without crackers. Oh and yes, one thing I love doing is making colourful rangolis and I will spend some quality time making them.
— Tamannah Bhatia
A HAPPY FATHER
This Diwali is extremely special for me because my daughter is coming home. She has gone abroad for her higher studies and now that she is coming home for Diwali, it is a very happy moment for the entire family. I am eagerly waiting for my daughter.
— Ajay Devgn
A starry affair
Television queen Ekta Kapoor recently hosted a pre-Diwali bash at her residence with the who’s who of Bollywood in attendance. Among those who were seen at the party were Alia Bhatt, Karan Johar, Sonam Kapoor and many others.
