Have fun with e-cards and e-crackers

With information technology (IT) touching all spheres of our life, how can Diwali be left unaffected. In this age of internet, e-greetings are all set to take over from the conventional- paper greetings. The largest users of internet, youngsters find e-cards in vogue, convenient, fast and not to forget, free of cost. "E-cards are fine to be sent to professional associates or even friends upto an extent, because they are free and convenient, but they lack the personal touch which is expressed through a paper greeting," said Puneet Sharma, a final-year student of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies.However, Sharma is among the increasing bunch of environmentally-conscious youngsters who are saying no to crackers on Diwali. "I haven''t fired crackers since the past few years as I have realised that they adversely effect our environment. Animated e-crackers, replete with all the glitter and sound effect, give a feeling close to that of burning actual crackers," he said. But isn''t he missing the thrill of firing crackers? Sharma said: "Burning crackers which are an environment hazard is not my idea of fun."
Speaking about the changing trends of Diwali, he remarked, "Diwali earlier was more an occasion to meet friends and relatives and family get-togethers. Now I find that it has become more of an affair to remain self-confined."