Aao iss diwali hum sab dilon mein pyar, shanti aur dhairya ke deep jalaaye ....

Ali Peter John

Corona and the cruel circumstances and an atmosphere of sheer fear has taken a decision to spoil and almost ruin all the chances of us having the kind of happy, prosperous and jubilant festival of lights, better known as Diwali ......

Appeals are being made by politicians, priests of different religions, social activists, environment specialists, scientists and doctors asking people to have a quiet and noise and pollution - free festival and if there is one thing they have asked us to strictly avoid is playing with fireworks of any kind. Appeals are also being made to have an austere Diwali with there being taken about the kind of money that is splashed around in the decorations with all kinds of lights, stars, buntings and festoons and the rich food and sweets that are served and to use the money spent on them for the victims of Covid19 and other kinds of misery and suffering that has been ravaging the country and the world.

Appeals are also being made to keep away from the kind of gambling that goes on in the name of celebrating Diwali.Children are very unhappy about their not being able to celebrate their favourite festival. And for Bollywood, it will perhaps be the first time that it will have to have a very dry, bland and even boring Diwali ........

It is against this backdrop that we decided to talk to some big and small names, from Bollywood asking them about what Diwali meant for them in the "raj of Madam Corona". And here are some of their reactions ......

SHAH RUKH KHAN speaking from Dubai ....At the outset I would like to thank all my fans for wishing me on birthday even in the dark times. As we continue to be living in the dark times, I would make a very heartfelt appeal to one and all to keep the festival of Diwali on a low key. Remember, my friends Corona is still very much around and is just waiting for us to make one small mistake so that it can claim as many victims as it can. Diwali is a festival that my family has always looked forward to, but we have decided to skip all celebrations this year due to the pandemic and I fervently ask all to not play with fire with Corona around the corner.

Diwali can always be better and brighter next year, Inshaallah BHARAT RATNA LATA MANGESHKAR. .... Mujhe maalum hai ki Diwali aa rahi hai. Lekin, iss waqt Diwali woh nahi hai jo har saal aati hai. sab sab se guzararish hai ki iss saal Diwali zara sambaal ke khelo. Meri duaaye aap sab ke saath hai har saal ke jaise ishwar aap sab ko shanti aur sehat de.

SUBHASH GHAI..... I wish. one and all a very happy Diwali and I hope and pray that these bad times end soon and we get our Diwali back and we are able to celebrate it like we always have. It has been a rough time for our film industry,but I hope to see the industry in a better light soon. The show has to and will go on, I am very optimistic about SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI ....... Diwali woh sab se achi aur sachi hoti hai jo sache dilon mein kheli aur manayi jaati hai. Meri maa Leela ji aur mere taraf se sab ko dil se Diwali mubarak DEEPTI NAVAL..... This is going to be a very different kind of a Diwali for me. I am in my house in Manali after the problem I had with my heart.

I have had my own way of celebrating Diwali and I don't think any thing about the festival will change for me AAMIR KHAN ...... Celebrating Diwali is an essential part of the culture and traditions of our country and I and my family have always celebrated it. But it is not going to be the same this year. I will be completing the shooting of my film , Pan Singh Chaddha during the festival. And isn't working hard to that the best results the best kind of festival.

MADHURI DIXIT NENE .....I was planning to celebrate Diwali with my husband and my sons, Ryan and Arrin, but we humans can only plan but the fulfilment of our plans depends on that supreme power above. Happy Diwali to one and all NITN ANAND ( stand up comedian and actor ) Arre bhai, kisme kaha ki Diwali aa rahi hai ,? Woh sab hangama jo pahele hota tha, woh kya Corona ne gayab kar diya ? koi muje bataayega jab sach mein Diwali ki roshni dikhayi degi. Muje toh ab tak Corona ne pareshaan kar ke rakha hai.Suna hai aaj kal log Corona se pyar bhi karne lage hai. Aur raasta hi kya hai apun ke paas.

Kya humne kabhi socha tha ki ek waqt ayega jab Diwali ke tyohaar aur uske saath aanewali saari khusiyaa ko ek chota sa keeda barbaad kerega ?