Festival of Lights

by Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

The Festival of Lights is here,
Filling the air with joy and cheer.
Exchanging clothes, gifts and sweets,
Makes Diwali a true festival of treats.

Diwali evening is illuminated with rows of light
Crackers reverberate through the day and night.
Amidst the rows of lights and bursting crackers,
Who thinks of the Sivakasi* kids or Diya** makers...?

*Sivakasi is a town in Tamil Nadu, India known for its cracker factories that employ child labour regularly and accidents are a way of life...

** Small artistic lamps made of mud, used extensively during Diwali

01-Nov-2013

More By : Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Views: 1421 Comments: 12

Comments on this Poem

Thanks Ru and Nathmalji for your appreciation.

Padmaja Iyengar
05-Nov-2013 01:54 AM

Thanks Ru and Nathmalji.

Padmaja Iyengar
05-Nov-2013 01:53 AM

Realistic views.Very nice & heart touching .Thank you Mam.

Nathmal Sharma
04-Nov-2013 13:34 PM

True.

seshu chamarty
04-Nov-2013 05:28 AM

Thanks Ru for your appreciation.

Padmaja Iyengar
03-Nov-2013 22:40 PM

so true..a wonderful write!

Rupradha
03-Nov-2013 13:33 PM

Thanks kingshuk and Nairji for sharing my concerns.

Padmaja Iyengar
02-Nov-2013 09:03 AM

Oh Padmaja-ji - the Chinese would clamour for a place alongside the Sivakasi kids as most of the stuff that we burn today like sparklers and daisywheels come from that great land. That said, your poem is a bright Diwali lamp and Aparna-ji has complemented it so well with a beautiful image. Sure she is deep into photography and too good at it too.

madathilnair
02-Nov-2013 02:14 AM

So true......Those who brought Diwali illumination are themselves in darkness..........thank you for bringing this up

kingshuk
02-Nov-2013 00:29 AM

Thanks a ton Aparnaji for that beautiful visual, as usual..Would have loved one of the Sivakasi kids too alongside...as a contrast!

Padmaja Iyengar
01-Nov-2013 13:55 PM

Thanks Kulbir.

Padmaja Iyengar
01-Nov-2013 13:44 PM

So true!

Kulbir
01-Nov-2013 13:18 PM