DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22460#0542
Ten
l?,hitak*,ua» cjl'.v e
November 15, 1953
DEVALI — The Festival of Lights
By CHUMPA LALL
It was a business trip
to Gauhati which gave tne
the opportunity and the
pleasure of witnessing the
gay, if not the gayest of
all festivals in the Hindu
Calender — Divali. Apart
from its legendary beliefs,
it is enjoyed in equal mea-
sure by both the young
and the old. In these hard
days extravagance was
abundant. Pleasing to the
eye. no doubt, but was
it pleasing to the heart!
As diverse as the illu-
minations so this festival
was celebrated by thediffe-
ent communities. Some
thought back "with leve-
renee the memory of de-
parted lovi-d ones, other
rejoiced in Steeping with a
coronation and yet others
devoted their time to fer-
vent'prayer and medita-
tion. The tiller of
the land made this an
.occasion for harvest thanks
giving amidst song and
dance. And so and so forth
the celebrations came and
went:
’“Inwardly,"’ I said to
" myself “were these night
revellers so care free and
gay ?’ that extra copper
spent on a cracker — was
it really worth it ^ Just'
"listen to this small inci-
dent and I’m sure you’d
feel the same way as I did.
A little pot-belli d
youngster, his large eyes
literally jutting out of his
head came up to me and
asked of an anna. He
was sucking the tails of
' a greemy shirt, pants—
he had none He looked
famished, the poor wretch.
I took pity on him and
gave him a four anna bit.
“Go off now and buy
yourself some sweets,’’ I
coaxed him. Overjoyed he
ran off but not to a sweet,
shop, no. the fire-works
were, more attractive. He
had soon lit the end of
a “fuljari’’ and when the
stars danced about him he
held his stick of magne-
sium high atove his head
His face beamed with jov
One by one be burned
them and then—he was
back to where lie belonged—
lost, bewildered and still
hungry. I housnnds of
others like this little cha-
ppy must have spent their
last pice for a moments
excitement.
Yes, amid this encod-
ing gioom, could we not
have contributed to a fund
to help the poor and
needy. I’m sure that little
extra we spent on lighting
oti-rJjbmes could have been
used to light many otlu-r
homes-lion.e3 of distress.
India today is acting as
a beacon of light to the
world. May this Divali
festival foster in us the
same principles which the
Mahatma showed us, and
may we earnestly pray to
the almighty that this
noble task which onr coun-
try has taken up will
eventually radiate thatlove
and affection which the
world is so badly in need
of today. God grant them
the strength to bold that
torch of peace high above
their heads so that all
nations will realise that it
is not being done with
any selfish motive but with
only one view — To Ligten
the home of darkness, where-
ever they he, in all parts of
this universe
DRAMA AT PEDONG
Pedong, Nov. 10
There was a drama.
‘Nari Jiwan’ in the St-
George High School, Pc
dong on the eve of Dewali-
All visitors could not be
accommodated andsoagain
on 8th Nov. it was staged.
1 ho comical performance
of Mr B. L. Kuinai lent
a sp ejai chaim in the
drama. ,
MOVHMKNT OF
niroTiicts
As the Pujah season
is over, it has been deci-
ded b\ the State Govern-
ment to allow movement
of dhotis by mills or
dealers to places outside
t fie West Bengal zone
without any restrictions.
DARJEELING RaDIO CO., D 1RJEELING the pioneer radio concern of Darjeeling district.
l?,hitak*,ua» cjl'.v e
November 15, 1953
DEVALI — The Festival of Lights
By CHUMPA LALL
It was a business trip
to Gauhati which gave tne
the opportunity and the
pleasure of witnessing the
gay, if not the gayest of
all festivals in the Hindu
Calender — Divali. Apart
from its legendary beliefs,
it is enjoyed in equal mea-
sure by both the young
and the old. In these hard
days extravagance was
abundant. Pleasing to the
eye. no doubt, but was
it pleasing to the heart!
As diverse as the illu-
minations so this festival
was celebrated by thediffe-
ent communities. Some
thought back "with leve-
renee the memory of de-
parted lovi-d ones, other
rejoiced in Steeping with a
coronation and yet others
devoted their time to fer-
vent'prayer and medita-
tion. The tiller of
the land made this an
.occasion for harvest thanks
giving amidst song and
dance. And so and so forth
the celebrations came and
went:
’“Inwardly,"’ I said to
" myself “were these night
revellers so care free and
gay ?’ that extra copper
spent on a cracker — was
it really worth it ^ Just'
"listen to this small inci-
dent and I’m sure you’d
feel the same way as I did.
A little pot-belli d
youngster, his large eyes
literally jutting out of his
head came up to me and
asked of an anna. He
was sucking the tails of
' a greemy shirt, pants—
he had none He looked
famished, the poor wretch.
I took pity on him and
gave him a four anna bit.
“Go off now and buy
yourself some sweets,’’ I
coaxed him. Overjoyed he
ran off but not to a sweet,
shop, no. the fire-works
were, more attractive. He
had soon lit the end of
a “fuljari’’ and when the
stars danced about him he
held his stick of magne-
sium high atove his head
His face beamed with jov
One by one be burned
them and then—he was
back to where lie belonged—
lost, bewildered and still
hungry. I housnnds of
others like this little cha-
ppy must have spent their
last pice for a moments
excitement.
Yes, amid this encod-
ing gioom, could we not
have contributed to a fund
to help the poor and
needy. I’m sure that little
extra we spent on lighting
oti-rJjbmes could have been
used to light many otlu-r
homes-lion.e3 of distress.
India today is acting as
a beacon of light to the
world. May this Divali
festival foster in us the
same principles which the
Mahatma showed us, and
may we earnestly pray to
the almighty that this
noble task which onr coun-
try has taken up will
eventually radiate thatlove
and affection which the
world is so badly in need
of today. God grant them
the strength to bold that
torch of peace high above
their heads so that all
nations will realise that it
is not being done with
any selfish motive but with
only one view — To Ligten
the home of darkness, where-
ever they he, in all parts of
this universe
DRAMA AT PEDONG
Pedong, Nov. 10
There was a drama.
‘Nari Jiwan’ in the St-
George High School, Pc
dong on the eve of Dewali-
All visitors could not be
accommodated andsoagain
on 8th Nov. it was staged.
1 ho comical performance
of Mr B. L. Kuinai lent
a sp ejai chaim in the
drama. ,
MOVHMKNT OF
niroTiicts
As the Pujah season
is over, it has been deci-
ded b\ the State Govern-
ment to allow movement
of dhotis by mills or
dealers to places outside
t fie West Bengal zone
without any restrictions.
DARJEELING RaDIO CO., D 1RJEELING the pioneer radio concern of Darjeeling district.