Payal Saxena: Diwali is all about celebrating life!

For writer-director Payal Saxena,  Diwali is all about love and relationships. Payal, who has written and directed Ishqiyoun, says that this is the best time for the year.

“Diwali is all about celebrating life and cherishing all your loved ones. It is a start to a new beginning. Everyone is so happy during this time of year. This is also the best time to forgive and forget. If you need forgiveness, this would be the right time to ask. Patience and tolerance are disappearing in the world but during this time, I see a lot of it,” she says.

Talking about this year, she says, “I will be with friends in Michigan but I plan to still stuff myself silly with all the mithai. I will miss my family, my daughters Zara and Michelle and friends, the lighting and the card parties this year though. Part of our traditions each year has been to organize festival dinners at two of the orphanages I support in Goregaon. I definitely plan to continue doing that this year.”

 

She adds, “Pandemic has bought home the fact that in the end all that is important is relationships. Festivals are ways to celebrate those relationships. Hearty laugh, tasty food and love is what Diwali should be about. As for the food, my diet plans never pan out anyway and Diwali gives me one more excuse to enjoy food. I, like many others, would love it if all food could be declared healthy, even the puris and halwas. How I wish that is true!”

While she loves Diwali, firecrackers are never part of the celebrations for Payal. “Pooja and food are what my Diwali is all about. I hate crackers because dogs and cats have a really bad time. Diwali is a loving festival, how can hurting poor souls make it right? So I am against it. There are pollution issues too. Plus what a waste of money. Imagine how many millions can be provided for with that money. Mythologically also crackers were never part of the festival,” she says.

 

Ask her what has been her fondest Diwali memories from her childhood days and she says, “Freedom..All Diwalis has been great. We, as kids, got away with so much during this festival. No school, all cousins together, games and great food so all memories are special.”

 

And what about her Diwali outfit for this year? “I honestly decide at the last minute. I love shopping so I buy a lot but mainly for others. I love when all youngsters dress up like my daughter, my nephew and sisters. Even my extended family of all my staff, colleagues and homemakers. That is what brings joy to me. My own attire is always thrown together at the last minute. This year I am in Michigan so do not think it will really be anything traditional . Next year, we will have a new family member joining us as My youngest sister is expecting, who is like my oldest daughter, a new family member after 27 years so definitely next year will be a bigger celebration,” she says.