Diwali - The Festival of Lights is here and people around the globe, yes, Diwali is celebrated not just in India but abroad too. Many generations of Indians have settled in far away places and they still celebrate Diwali with equal fervour although with the local touch of whichever country they are in.

Diwali - the very word brings to our minds sweets, new clothes, expensive as well as cheap appliances and things for the home, jewellery, lights - electric as well as traditional ones, and of course, gifts, for our near and dear ones.

Gifts although synonymous with material objects bought with money can also mean a small act or a deed tof kindness that brings joy to others, a small word of kindness or encouragement that brings hope where there is none left.

For me personally, I remember Diwali of my childhood about spending long times with my mum a few days before Diwali started and helping her prepare a variety of dishes called Faraal in Marathi. This faraal includes various sweets like laddoos, karanjis, savouries like chakali etc. and need a lot of effort and time to prepare them. Although I was not able to prepare anything on my own, a little help in whatever way I could was a great help to her and just spending time with her helped me learn to cook well with love and attention to detail as well as to be patient while cooking. This was a gift that I got from her, the reason why I love to cook and feed others.

Gone are those days since now emphasis is more on spending money to buy readymade sweets as they are easily available, although buying them readymade is not as exciting as preparing them together. Yet, the good point is that the women of the households do not have to labour much and they can spend that time with others in the family, I must say a precious gift for those women who would otherwise miss out on a lot of fun with the family.

A simple act of kindness, a word spoken softly, a simple thank you to someone who does your chores is also a gift. There is a woman who comes daily to collect trash from all the homes in my building and she also cleans the staircase and the huge parking lot daily. She comes daily does her work and goes home, she never asks for favors or any money even though she is quite poor. But today being Diwali she came tin the morning to ask for a small amount of gift money, a common practice in Maharashtra, and I gave her Rs. 50 and a box of sweets and savories that I had prepared. When she saw the note and the box, her face lit up and her eyes welled up anwith tears and I could not help but ask her the reason. She said that I was the first person to give her Rs. 50, others had only given her Rs. 10 and no sweets.

I was stunned and felt sad at the same time since most people in my building are working in IT companies and earn hefty salaries so giving her mere Rs. 10 was a joke. In a city like Pune, all you can buy for a measly Rs. 10 is a cup of tea! The reason why I felt horrible is that, among the various pooja rituals, we worship a new broom on the night of Diwali. A broom sweeps away all the dirt and trash and keeps our homes healthy and disease free so it is  worshipped as "Aarogya Lakshmi" and yet, they could not find it in their hearts to treat this woman, who keeps our surroundings clean and dirt free, with respect. It seemed like Diwali has now been reduced to materialistic ritual like all other festivals and spirit of giving has vanished.

And then I read about a handful few who do extraordinary acts by taking time and effort to do something for these ordinary and invisible beings in our society. The workers of a social service organization in Pune gathered together a number of homeless people, people who clean and sweep gutters and toilets, bathed them and gave them new clothes to wear, served them sweets and felicitated them. They were given traditional lights and lanterns to put up in their homes, which they would not have afforded to otherwise. This was something they had never experienced before in their lives and many were moved to tears, the children overjoyed on receiving the first firecrackers ever. I think this is a step forward to bringing people from the lower strata to the mainstream of the society - which is going to be a long journey but a step forward is better than none taken.

Another gift that one can give others is by spending time with those who are lonely. Many students and young professionals are taking time out from their busy schedules of work and study to spend time with lonely elderly people living in old age homes.

Only an hour spent with them on Diwali day can bring endless joys to these people who are past their prime and are no longer useful to others that they have been thrown aside by their kin. By holding their shaking and wavering hands and lighting a tiny lamp will lit a lamp of joy in their hearts that will be remembered for the remaining days of their lives.

Spending time with your family, I mean quality time talking to each other and not sitting together in front of the television, is a gift too. With busy schedules of everyone, both parents working outside the house, children busy with study, tuitions, extra classes etc. the family time together is missing. So gift your family the joy of time spent together playing childish yet fun games, eating together, most importantly listening to others, is a day well spent and it likely that will become your child's favorite and most dearly remembered time. You could turn this kind of activity into a family tradition, a tradition that your children will look forward too, and pass on to their own children.

Appreciate your neighbours, a simple word of gratitude for looking after your house and your cat when you are away on vacation or you are working 14-hour sessions daily, collecting your important mail and courier packages while you are away. You do say thank you to your neighbouring lady, but writing a simple thank you along with Diwali wishes will make her feel extra appreciated and will strengthen your friendships. Similar appreciations to your friends will go a long way too.

While you are at it, do not forget our Mother Earth from whose bosom we have all grown and nurtured. Plant a sapling each Diwali and take care of it. Mother Earth will really appreciate this effort and bless us all in return!

So while you are lighting diyas around your homes and bursting crackers that lit up the night sky, do not forget to light a little lamp of hope and joy in others who are not so fortunate as we are.

A very happy and a prosperous Diwali to all!