Photograph: Onal Kothari
Architect Onal Kothari helps you plan your Diwali in advance with useful tips.
- Pet care: Diwali celebration is incomplete without firecrackers. The noise and polluted environment may leave your pet jittery and jumping all around the house for rescue. Keep a separate place for your pet so that they stay free from the anxiety this Diwali.
- Creativity: If you have some free time on your hand, get your kids involved in the Diwali preparation with some art and crafts. You can ask them to paint diyas with their favourite leftover paint colours or make your own paper lanterns to be hung at the entrance. Such creativity allows kids to feel responsible.
- Cleanliness: It is important to stick to strict working hours before Diwali so that you spend less time cleaning your home. You can find many home cleaning agencies in the city. These help you cut down on cleaning time with a little investment within the stipulated time. All you need is schedule an appointment.
- Budget: Diwali is the favourite time of the year for many people, where they get the best of their bonus products with money. It’s the festive time where you must schedule your monthly house budget with the distribution bonus to your staff and related person.
- Story time: The best way to help kids understand the rituals of Indian culture is by means of narrating a story. Part of the story can be narrated during bedtime. Pre-Diwali timings are the best to let kids learn the culture and have fun. Pre-festive weeks are the best time to help them connect and link stories easily.
- Visit less fortune: Joyous times are the best to visit the needy and share happiness. Make a visit to old age homes, orphanages etc., have some chit chats, prepare some food together, share the joy of Diwali to brighten up some lives.
- Travel: If you travel between cities or states, don’t forget to book your bus / train / flight back to your destination on time.