Weekend Musings: Keeping The Festive Spirit Alive

Diwali is upon us once again, bringing with it a sense of joy, enthusiasm, and also some nostalgia. Since time immemorial, festivals have invoked a feeling of togetherness in people. They mark the time when we press pause on our busy schedules, meet our loved ones, and celebrate with our friends, family, and community.

This time, however, the pandemic is set to be a major obstacle in letting us fully revel in the festive glory of Diwali. Not being able to meet loved ones certainly takes away from the usual excitement. Some of my fondest memories from my childhood include visiting my friends and families in their brightly lit homes, and indulging in special homemade delicacies. I will miss the grand celebrations with not just my relatives, but also my extended family at Panasonic. What a blast we used to have together every year!  

Although, not being able to physically meet, does not have to dampen our spirits. We are blessed to be living in times when a click of a button can connect us to people living in an entirely different country. The fact that we can still celebrate with the same excitement and fervor as always could be seen over the past few weeks. During Navratri and Durga Puja, it was exhilarating to see people coming together virtually to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit. From virtual Dandiya competitions to online Ram Leela showcases, it was all there. These small technological innovations go a long way in keeping the feeling of closeness intact.

Along with getting in touch with our near and dear ones, festivals also bring an opportunity for us to revamp our homes. I remember being a little boy and helping my mother with Diwali cleaning every year, preparing, placing and lighting the lamps and preparing our home for a visit from Goddess Lakshmi. Being homebound due to the pandemic, I believe has only made people work on their homes even more. People are increasingly investing in home-décor pieces, making their place of living - and now even the place of working- all the more comfortable and aesthetically appealing. This has also led to a spike in sales of consumer durables and appliances which are helping people make their life comfortable. And to help people in bringing in new products, we at Panasonic also decided to do our small bit. It’s common that amidst the excitement for the new products, we tend to overlook the old ones. However, e-waste should be discarded as carefully as other waste. We hope to take care of it through our small initiative called ‘Diwali wali Safaai’- collecting your e-waste and responsibly disposing of it for you. I hope we will be able to do some amount of good during these auspicious days.

After all, that’s what is needed in the world right now. Small efforts to spread goodness from every one of us. Because this year, the evil that we face is in the form of this virus that we all need to overcome. And the only way to do so is by coming together and spreading love through small acts of kindness. Not only on friends or family but also on strangers and most importantly, on ourselves. This is the best time to work on our mental and physical health, to take time out and introspect. We need to not only organize our homes but also add some fragrance to our lives through some self-care. We also cannot forget our values and the essence of what our festivals stand for. We need to remember the way Shri Ram had to go through various obstacles before defeating Raavan, and have the same amount of determination in our battle with this pandemic. Giving up is not an option, as hard as the path may seem. We need to stay home, celebrate from a distance knowing that our friends’ and family’s goodwill is forever present in our hearts. While I wait for things to improve, I will spend these propitious days praying for the threat of this pandemic to lift and for prosperity and happiness for everyone.