Diwali on the Ganga: A Journey Back to Childhood Lights and Laughter
November 1Article compiled by Sameer Kumar Misra on the occasion of Diwali
Suraj Yadav, a young boy from a small town near the banks of the Ganga, on the border of Varanasi and Ghazipur, remembers his childhood Diwalis with a heart full of nostalgia. Those days felt magical—simpler, yet filled with uncontainable excitement. Back then, the thrill of Diwali wasn’t just about the festival; it was an ocean of experiences waiting to be enjoyed with friends.
As the festival approached, planning began days in advance. Suraj and his friends would discuss and compete over who would bring the most and best fireworks. They would sneak out early in the morning, gather their savings, and head to the market with a sense of adventure, buying a variety of firecrackers. The sound of explosions in the narrow village streets would follow, often met with scoldings from the older folks. Yet, even the rebukes couldn’t dull the joy; they were just part of the Diwali ritual.
His mother’s warnings echoed in his mind as he lit each firecracker, “Be careful this time, remember last year when one exploded in your hand?” He would nod, say, “Yes, Mom,” and rush out, excitement overriding caution as he joined his friends to set off firecrackers.
Evenings were a different kind of magic. Suraj recalls the soft, golden glow of the diyas his family would arrange carefully around the house. His father took great pride in making sure every corner was well-lit, no dark spots left behind. Watching his father smile, fully immersed in this ritual, left a lasting imprint on Suraj’s heart. Together with his friends, he would wander through the village, basking in the collective joy of lights and laughter, sharing stories and dreams under the sparkle of the night.
As the night wore on, the firecrackers’ noise began to fade, replaced by a quiet calm. Yet, a small sadness crept in as he wondered, “Will we get to celebrate like this next year?”
The next morning, though, brought another round of joy. The remnants of the night lay scattered, and Suraj would roll a few leftover diyas with his friends, laughter filling the air again. Those little tricks and shared jokes, those moments of pure, carefree happiness—they’re still tucked away in a special corner of his heart, as precious memories of Diwali from his childhood, which is lost somewhere in this modern world but remains a pleasant memory in heart.
Suraj Yadav, a student at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, fondly reminisces about the Diwali celebrations of his childhood—filled with the warmth of family, vibrant traditions, and the enchanting lights along the banks of the Ganga in his hometown near the Varanasi-Ghazipur border in Uttar Pradesh. He has authored a poem about Diwali in Hindi, whose translation is captured in the story.
