Lights light up our lives

Diwali or festival of lights was celebrated with joy and revelry. In few cities citizens refrained from using fire crackers as they are made by using exploitative child labor  Instead  people had floated lighted lanterns which lit up the sky. Our identity as people of India is clearly visible from space....glowing India...We could be seen from space as we celebrate the festival lighting up the outer walls of our homes. Gods will see  from heaven, and bless us with 'Aiswariyam'(prosperity)On Diwali,each hearth in each home is warm, while we make sweets for our children. Lights in our prayer rooms are lit by 'diyas' or oil lamps. We pray for prosperity of our homes for all times to come. Children are given fire crackers to burst and enjoy. Everyone in the family wear new clothes and welcome the Goddess Lakshmi in their homes.
While informal economy provides for the festivals with decorations for the homes, modern shops advertise big sales of cars, TVs, mobile phones and everything under the sun. Consumerism has boomed in a big way. People want to buy, buy and buy. Festivals are given a new meanings now----for example---on 'Dhanteras' day of Diwali metals are bought for the household, people  generally bought gold or silver, now it is cars and refrigerators or tablets and mobiles. Times have changed.Festivals got new expressions. All items which lighten up our lives, as we strive to buy.....happiness....