Diwali is undoubtedly the favorite time of the year for most of us. Diwali traditions such as annual cleaning of the house, bursting of crackers and exchanging gifts make the festival special. In this ever-changing world, Diwali celebrations have also changed and have become modernized. While all of us respect the festival with the same feelings, here some ways celebrating Diwali has changed in past few years:

Updating everything on social media

No matter what people do, they want everything to be documented on social media. From eating, shopping, bursting crackers to doing Diwali Pooja, everything gets uploaded with proper hashtags now.

Shopping stores have changed

Earlier, people used to spend hours in markets trying to find the best gifts for their special ones and now, most of us just go online, type the keywords and order the gifts for our loved ones.

Eco-Conscious Diwali

Bursting crackers has become less popular. Today’s generation has become more aware of the harm that firecrackers cause. Things such as ‘green crackers’ are gaining popularity now.

Celebrating together

With busy lifestyles, people have found alternatives to coming home on Diwali as video calls have become easier to join in on the family in prayers and all the rituals.

Changing countdown

Remember the time when you started counting down the days to Diwali at the end of Dussehra – 20 days away from Vijaya Dashmi was the easy way to remember. Now, we don’t bother with all that, as Diwali countdown begins from the day Flipkart, Amazon or Snapdeal take over your newspaper’s front pages in screaming fonts. Each year, the big billion day online festive sale seems to start earlier than usual. The way things are going, don’t be too surprised if one day Diwali sales start smack in the middle of summer.

Shrinking bonuses, bloating baksheesh

Wherever did that big fat bonus that took care of one EMI or helped you plan an extravagant purchase vanish? “Honey, I shrank the bonus,” is the tune corporates sing today, while others do away with cash and give you coupons (which are bound to be lost), or offer to pick up house painting tabs (in a year when you wanted to skip the whitewashing ritual!). Meanwhile, the tribe of ‘baksheesh’ seekers bloats as even random temping helps turn up with bright smiles. The one face you miss, however, is the postman.

WhatsApp wellwishers

As telcos smartly hike SMS tariffs on festival days, India seems to en masse move to WhatsApp. On Diwali morning you wake up with 104 alerts – many from unknown souls who blithely assume you know who they are – wishing you Diwali in myriad ways, mainly unoriginal and forwarded. From animated videos, memes, selfies, to inspiring quotes, it’s a day’s job and more to get through the messages, which now start before Dhanteras and drag on through Govardhan Pooja and Bhai Dhooj. Your office gives you one measly day off for the festival, but the well wishers – who more often than not marketers – stalk you all five days, laying out an array of tempting suggestions to part with your money.

The detox bug

In the old days you spent hours scrubbing your home and ridding it of junk. Today, you get cleaning services to do that job for you. But wait, it’s not that easy. Once your house is sparkling, you need to detox your mind, body and soul, of course. From spas to spiritual retreats, the SMS offers chase you. But, hello, there is still the online clutter to be attacked – be it on your phone, your laptop, or your social media network (deweeding friends list is an annual Diwali ritual now).

All wired up

 In the age of convenience, it’s the electric bulb, fairy lights and paper chandeliers that light up Diwali rather than the mud lamps with oil and wicks. From heart shaped bulbs to fruity illuminations, the lights strung over walls balconies make a flashy statement even as flowers vanish from Rangolis replaced by gaudy baubles and stars. Good may still triumph over evil, but good taste too has been vanquished.