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Home > Sports News > Other Sports News > Article > Saina Nehwal and other sports stars share their favourite Diwali tales

Saina Nehwal and other sports stars share their favourite Diwali tales

Updated on: 15 October,2017 04:20 PM IST  |  Mumbai
Ashwin Ferro, Harit N Joshi, Sundari Iyer, Rohan Koli, Ronald Chettiar and Noel D'Souza |

With Supreme Court banning firecrackers in Delhi, prominent sports personalities like Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Suresh Raina, Sunil Chhetri, Anjali Bhagwat, Dhanraj Pillay and others share their favourite Diwali tales

Saina Nehwal and other sports stars share their favourite Diwali tales

Suresh Raina



At home, during Diwali we would often bring bijli bombs. The one with the sticker of a hen on it would be the original one. The best part was that it would never burst. My sister, father and I enjoyed this. Sometimes, I used to remove all the baarood (gun powder) from the bombs and light it again. It was good fun.


PV Sindhu

My dad never allowed me to go near crackers. He was so afraid that I would harm myself and would have to miss my practice sessions. I really wanted to enjoy Diwali, so sometimes he used to be at my side when I lit crackers.

On firecracker ban: The Supreme Court is above all and I feel we have to respect the decision.

Saina Nehwal

My favourite crackers were the chakri (fire wheel) and fuljadi (sparkler). I used to love burning them when I was young. My whole family used to get together for puja in the evening.

On firecracker ban: I don't want to comment on it, but the Supreme Court must have thought a lot before taking the decision.

Prithvi Shaw

I love rockets and fountains.

P Kashyap

I love the rockets, which burst into different colours. It makes me happy. I don't like the ones that make too much noise.

Sunil Chhetri

Coming from an Army background, we weren't allowed to make much noise inside the camp, so we didn't have many choices. Whatever my father used to get, I enjoyed it like bombs and fuljadis. My mom used to light the entire house with diyas. We played a lot of games and used to gift something to each other as well.

On firecracker ban: It will be very selfish for me to say that not to burst crackers as when I was young I also did it, but I've become much more mature. There are many other ways to celebrate and if possible, try and burst less crackers to reduce pollution. I have not burst crackers for the last 13 to 14 years. Have a safe and happy Diwali.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

I used to love playing with fountains. My day began by going to the Gurudwara. After I returned home, I spent the whole day with my family.

On firecracker ban: I have celebrated Diwali without any crackers for the last three to four years. It's a good move by the Supreme Court. Crackers create pollution and I want our country to be cracker-free.

Dhanraj Pillay

I used to advise my younger generation and family members not to waste money on crackers. I wish my fellow countrymen and Indians all over the globe a safe Deepavali. Please don't pollute the air.

Gagan Narang

As kid, I liked all kinds of firecrackers, but now I feel that we should stay away from them, given the pollution levels with increased urbanisation has become difficult to breathe. We should give the gen-next a chance to run and play in clean air. Most of my Diwali days are spent at the range with the kids.

Vijender Singh

I'm not into fireworks. I travel a lot because of boxing. I'm just happy to be with my family.

Yogeshwar Dutt

I love the sparklers and flowerpots. I celebrate Diwali with all the kids of my family.

On firecracker ban: Pollution exists in the entire world. The Supreme Court's decision is fine, but more than a day's Diwali, it is the diesel vehicles that pollute the environment. The government or the court has no say on huge car companies, which pollute the atmosphere everyday. It's only the small fish like the firecracker sellers that will face the brunt of this decision. There is also a lot of sound pollution with speakers blaring all over the place. Something needs to be done about that too.

Heena Sidhu

My brother and I used to buy bags full of crackers for the whole week leading to Diwali. We used to finish one bag a day. I loved those small bombs, which burst after you threw them hard on the floor.

On firecracker ban: I totally support the ban. We are constantly polluting our environment. We don't even feel that it's our duty to protect the environment. It used to be different 50 years ago. If we don't stop deforestation and continue releasing carbon dioxide, it'll be a different world in the next 50 years.

Anup Kumar

On firecracker ban: There are so many cases of people getting injured due to these crackers. It causes a lot of pollution as well. The essence of Diwali, which is to get together and light diyas thus spreading love and happiness, is lost.

Nitin Madane (kabaddi player)

As a kid, I used to love rockets.

On firecracker ban: Crackers cause a lot of noise and air pollution which is harmful to people, so we should aim at a cracker-free Diwali and just spread joy.

Krishna Poonia

I was afraid of large firecrackers. It was nice to light sparklers and small flowerpots. Now, I don't burst crackers.

On firecracker ban: No comments.

Tania Sachdev (chess player)

I never bought or burnt any crackers as I feel it is a waste of money and adds to the pollution.

On firecracker ban: We should all be responsible citizens and refrain from burning crackers. I am happy about the Supreme Court ruling.

Anjali Bhagwat

My favourite fireworks used to be sparklers, flower pots and ground spinners. I enjoyed bursting crackers during my childhood. Nowadays, the crackers that are sold in the market are very noisy and emit a lot of smoke. More than enjoyment, it's a headache sometimes.

On firecracker ban: I respect the SC decision, but for children that's the enjoyment and I feel parents being responsible citizens should give them eco friendly ones or crackers which produce less pollution.

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