Musings on Diwali

The way Indians celebrate their festivals is unique. In its colour, splendour and fervour, it is seldom challenged by any other nation or culture. What does not go down well with me is the thought if these festivals are not well planned and timed exercises by a few to exploit most. The festivals like Diwali, Onam and Holi are all post harvest festivals. This is when the agricultural Indian has some surplus with him. Of course, a "surplus" is a cause for celebration.
The fact is that it is not actually a surplus. The income pattern is such that there are only two or three spurts of income across the year and for the rest of the period there is only expenditure - heightened or subdued. The trading class benefits by wiping out this income spurt of the farmer through the festivals. The trading class acts on the volume of sale during this period and manages to raise the expenditure level of almost all the house holds. They get the families to be locked in consumer debts by offering to give instalment facilities and the like. Suffice to say, what could have gone into building the asset of the poor farmer is taken out of him and burned up as crackers! This also leaves the farmer ripe to be in need of an agricultural loan by the beginning of the next sowing season. Not a bad deal for the ones who lend!
The environmental impact of the kind of celebration is another detestable matter. Though Diwali is supposed to be the festival of lights, Indians typically favour heat, smoke and noise to light. The homeless labourer who sleeps on the streets of Delhi would have bronchitis for a Diwali gift thanks to the way his well-to-do brothers and sisters insist on celebrating this festival. It would be wonderful if anyone could look into the historical beginnings of these festivals. It could well be a joint effort by the trading class and priesthood. I cant see any other benefitting from the whole venture, though I love the sight of solitary lamp keeping away darkness on the Diwali night!