‘Celebrate with orphans’

Diwali to me means going on a shopping spree, performing Laxmi puja, preparing sweets and spending time with my loved ones. Every Diwali, I decorate my house with diyas and rangolis. The season is about festive celebrations and spending time with family and friends.

This year, I plan to visit an orphanage and spend some time with the kids there, feed them with sweets and chocolates. Spread love and happiness this Diwali and here’s wishing you a happy Diwali

—Aditi Sharma, who plays Meera in Kaleerein

‘Diwali with my Extended family’

Owing to my busy schedule, I will not be able to visit my family in Delhi, so I am going to celebrate it on the sets of Kundali Bhagya with my extended family. I have many memories of Diwali as our entire family would get together, my Grandfather would bless us with shagun and while grandmother would make us delicious halwa. For me, Diwali is all about togetherness, positivity and happiness. I frequently visit schools in villages and meet kids suffering from cancer at Tata Memorial hospital to celebrate the festival with them. This year, I am going to visit an orphanage and spend time with the children there. Lastly, I urge all not to burn crackers and pollute the environment                            

— Manit Joura who plays Rishabh in Kundali Bhagya

‘Pocket full of poker chips’

I've never burst a cracker even when I was a kid. My mother, who was an artist, used to ask us to get your rooms in place, decorate them and keep your wardrobes clean. There was something new or different that used to happen in decoration. We used to do a lot of best out of waste by making pouches out of old sarees, applique work bed covers out of old jari sarees and much more. But we don’t get that kind of time anymore now. We just go to the market and buy something. Meet old and new friends and playing cards on Diwali is fun, but of course not with crazy money but with plastic poker chips. My idea of celebrating Diwali is by decorating and redoing your house, meeting old friends and gorging on Indian delicacies.

— Actor Saumya Tandon

SHARE HAPPINESS WITH OTHERS

Diwali being a festival of new beginnings and positive energy brings with it warmth of togetherness and happiness. It is this very thought that has always built a desire within me to make another person’s Diwali special for them. While I do make it a point to spend some extra time with my family and friends, in some small ways, either by visiting an NGO with Diwali gifts or donating food, I ensure that another person also gets to celebrate their Diwali. I have always believed in celebrating a quiet and peaceful Diwali and hence feel that fire crackers must be kept to bare minimum use. I feel a complete ban on crackers might deprive the citizens of their celebrations, but it’s time the latter realise the harmful effects of its usage and accordingly curb their actions

— Guru Randhawa, judge on Love Me India

‘Burst balloons, NOT crackers’

Last year, I had celebrated Diwali on the sets of Siddhivinayak. I bought chocolates and small gifts for my entire unit and I will probably do the same this year too. Crackers are my only biggest disappointment of this festivity. I’ve seen children light crackers on the tails of street dogs which is so disturbing. Animals, new born babies, and sick people suffer the most due to the increased noise and pollution. We could use balloon crackers which is actually a concept where a string of balloons are put into a machine to burst and the sound of it is exactly like crackers but without any pollution and the level of sound is much lower.

— Farnaz Shetty, who plays Siddhi in Siddhivianyak

Celebrate the traditional way

Diwali is one of our biggest festivals and is celebrated with lots of sweets and lights. I have many memories from my childhood, especially the one where we used to do the Diwali cleaning at home. The most important and special part of this festival is when our friends and relatives get together to celebrate this day. The festival brings along the trend of bursting fire crackers which produces a lot of air and sound pollution and I really appreciate the decision made by the Supreme Court on the limited time allowed for fire crackers. In fact, I would  like if the crackers are totally banned and we celebrate Diwali the traditional way. This decision will help us look towards making the environment a bit more habitable for generations to come.

— Shubhangi Atre, who plays Angoori Bhabhi in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain

No noise, play music

Every year, I decorate my home with special LED lights and rangolis along with organic flowers and scented candles. I have a pug Simba who feels very troubled due to the noise of crackers and air pollution. For Simba we have to shut all the windows of the house and put some music on so he doesn't get scared of the sound from the outside. A lot of people should think about this and try and celebrate eco-friendly Diwali. This festival is much more fun without bursting crackers too. It’s all about celebrating together with families. Eating homemade food and sweets. It is also better on the pocket and pollution will decrease to some extent.

— Actor Shefali Jariwala

1st Diwali post wedding

Every year, I wait for this festival of lights and this year, it is even more special for me since it’s my first Diwali after my wedding. I have planned to cook some Diwali delicacies myself for our family. I am looking forward to decorating our house with beautiful twinkly lights and making a rangoli. I was never a fan of crackers, so my idea of Diwali is just family get-togethers and good food and all in all a merry time with the close ones.

— Rubina Dilaik, who plays Khushi in Shakti..Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki