JAY--Diwali Memories--Article

MINI MATHUR I'll never forget the Diwali of 2001. We'd just shifted to a new house in Mumbai. My parents flew in from Delhi. All my friends were there too. I haven't had a bad Diwali but this is one sparkling memory . MANDIRA BEDI I loved the Diwali I spent in my new house in Bandra some years ago. I lit up every corner of the house.. I hung kandils of all sorts. But Diwali also brings back memories of a nightmare. About 10 years ago when I was in Delhi, the smoke from crack- ers gave me the worst asthma attack of my life. I swore never to visit Delhi during the festi- val ever again. RONIT ROY As a little boy I'd burnt my hand badly when a patakha exploded. But if you thought that put me off patakhas you're wrong (laughs). Diwali for me has always been a time for cel- ebrations. And I'm looking for- ward to spending it with my wife and daughter this year. KARAN SINGH I was a kid when someone set fire to a whole bag of crackers right behind me. Explosive, huh? Diwali for me means lots of diyas and mithais. I don't burst crackers any more. I only lit some during a Diwali special of Dill Mill Gayye. Personally, I don't like crackers much. ANURADHA MENON Diwali or Deepavali.. as we call it in the South is memorable. When I was nine years old, I had a freak accident.. an anar burst on my backside! I was so traumatised, I refused to light crackers for the next three years. Even today, I don't buy crackers because the factories employ little children. JAY BHANUSHALI Diwali last year was crackling since I landed the lead in Kaya- math. It helped banish the mem- ory of having a bomb explode in my right hand.. all because I wanted to impress a seventh standard bomb. I couldn't use that hand for a week. I guess love hurts.. even during Diwali! NEHA BAMB My best Diwali was five years ago. I'd just signed a movie. It was such a thrill getting the signing amount. It felt like a blessing from Goddess Lakshmi herself. I've had several wonderful Diwalis since but nothing compares with the thrill of earning your own money for the first time. GAURAV CHOPRA Diwali reminds me of my days at NIFT. It was 1996 and there was a break from our hectic schedule. Nearly 500 of us students got together on the campus to light up the skies. Last year howev- er, I had a Black Diwali. I was in South Africa.. far away from my family and friends. I was so lonely .