Comedian and television personality Bharti Singh has opened up about how her Diwali celebrations have transformed dramatically over the years — from financially strained childhood festivals in which her family had to choose between buying sweets and firecrackers, to a present where she shops freely and plans to teach her children, Gola and Kaju, the value of sharing with those less fortunate.

From Scarcity to Stability

Bharti recalled that as a child, the arrival of any festival would fill her with quiet anxiety rather than excitement. 'Whenever a festival approached, I would get a little worried, wondering where we would get the money to buy things,' she said. The family's financial constraints were so acute that they would routinely forgo firecrackers in favour of sweets — the latter being essential for the puja. 'Our financial situation was so difficult that we had to choose between buying sweets or firecrackers. We would usually choose sweets because we needed them for the puja,' she explained.

That reality, Bharti said, now feels distant. Hard work over years in the entertainment industry has given her the financial freedom she once lacked. 'Today, I don't have to think twice before deciding whether I should buy something or not. I just have to step out, and I can buy whatever I want,' she said, acknowledging that her demanding shooting schedule for Indian Game Show with Bharti and Harssh still required her to carve out time for festive shopping with her children.

The Lesson She Wants Gola and Kaju to Learn

Despite her improved circumstances, Bharti is determined that her children not grow up indifferent to those who cannot afford to celebrate. She said she plans to actively teach Gola and Kaju that sharing is central to every festival — not just Diwali, but also Eid, Dussehra, and beyond. 'Whether it is sweets or firecrackers, you should share it with everyone,' she said.

Her reasoning is rooted in her own past. 'There are so many people who become sad when their festivals arrive because they do not know where they will get the money from,' she noted. For Bharti, abundance comes with a responsibility to look beyond one's own household — a lesson she says she wants to pass on as a core family value rather than a one-off gesture.

On Firecrackers and Changing Times

Bharti also touched on the tension between environmental concerns around firecrackers and the practical reality of parenting. 'Ideally, one should not burst firecrackers, but nobody can really explain that to children,' she said, acknowledging that most parents end up allowing 'one or two' as a compromise. This candid admission reflects a broader social conversation in India around urban air quality and festive traditions — a debate that remains unresolved for many families each October and November.

Career and Current Projects

Bharti Singh is currently co-hosting Indian Game Show with Bharti and Harssh alongside her husband Harssh Limbachiyaa. The show's back-to-back shooting schedule, she said, left little room for downtime during the festive season, though she made a point of prioritising family shopping time regardless.

Her candid reflections on childhood poverty and her ambitions for her children's values offer a rare, grounded counterpoint to the increasingly commercialised image of celebrity Diwali celebrations — and a reminder that for many Indian families, the festival still arrives with financial worry rather than fanfare.