A festival that lights up the sky with glamourous fireworks. A celebration that illuminates the world with gleaming beams of light. A gala which brings light to our hearts, our homes and our minds. It is none other than the ever illustrious festival, Diwali.

Even though it is characterized by mouthwatering sweets such as the Goan nevri, Kaju katli and the Rava kheer, the shining light of the intricately carved myriad lamps and the bursting sound of numerous firecrackers, it is the art of shopping that stands out during this mesmerizing festival. Shopping strikes gold into the hearts of men and women, both vendors and consumers alike. It is an abundance of wealth for the sellers and for the buyers, a chance to surprise and please the loved ones with vibrant gifts.

However, while the demand for goods has soared over the years, the style and trend have completely changed. The list of our desires has been dominated by technological goodies, as we call them now. These include fancy wristwatches, latest smartphones, brand new PC’s and shiny iPads. The childhood tradition of visiting and greeting the relatives and neighbors has been replaced by the modern digital greeting like instant messaging, social media platforms and email. The never ending stream of people queuing up to buy fireworks has started to decline in the recent years. Now with people becoming more aware of the pollution crackers create, fewer people opt for it and hence do their bid to keep the air breathable. In the past, families would celebrate with the local community by exchanging gifts, but now many use this holiday period to travel to exotic places around the world.

Amidst all these changes, some things remain unchanged. For instance, the impending desire to be clothed in brand new attires according to the latest fashion and the urge to buy and eat scrumptious delicacies. The trend and identity of shopping during Diwali may have changed during the last few years, but the art and spirit of it ever so remains the same.

Jonathan Shaji, X-F, Indian Educational School