In the Diwali spirit

Diwali is more fun when you have kids to celebrate it with, says actor Sonu Sood. "Who else will freak out over simple things like crackers and laddoos?" asks the doting father of two boys, eight-year old Eshaan and one-year old Ayaan. Sonu speaks to CS about celebrating Diwali with the sparkle of his life:

Down memory lane
I grew up in a small town in Punjab, and Diwali meant a fortnight of celebrations. Life was idyllic in Moga as compared to Mumbai. As a kid, I looked forward to all the sweets and crackers.

We would hold competitions as to who could burst crackers longer into the night. Like many boys, I too loved bombs and rockets. I remember dad taking me to the market to buy clothes for the whole year and crackers for the ten days.



Fireworks and funu00a0
It's tough to imagine Diwali without my kids. I get a chance to relive my childhood when I see their excitement for clothes, sweets, crackers and all. They love sparklers, rockets and flower pots (anars).

I went out shopping with them and it was fun to see their enthusiasm as they checked out the latest in the stalls. But I am a careful parent and always keep a watch on them when they burst crackers. Monitoring is a must.u00a0

Family time
My dad has come down from Punjab to celebrate Diwali with us. He has got lots of new clothes, toys and crackers for my sons. Some of my other relatives will also come down, so it will be a packed house. I prefer to spend time with my family members rather than party on Diwali. My kids also love the attention from elders.

Joy of giving
I love to gift stuff to my near and dear ones during this festive time. It's no fun to celebrate alone. Every year, I try and give something personal to them. This is one message I would like to give my kids that Diwali is not only about having fun, it's also about sharing warmth and happiness.

Who: Actor Sonu Sood with sons Eshaan and Ayaan
What: Reliving his childhood memories
Where: At his Oshiwara residence