New Delhi, Nov. 8 -- Sacrilegious as it might sound, I learned to truly enjoy Diwali only when I moved to the United States.

In Kolkata where I grew up, it was more about Kali Puja anyway. But whether it was Kali Puja or Diwali, everyone burst firecrackers, the louder the better. Now we talk about firecrackers and AQI, firecrackers and asthma, firecrackers and pet dogs, but for me firecrackers were a test of masculinity and each year I was found wanting.

Kali patakas. Chocolate bombs. Dodomas. And the double-dodomas-twice the bang for the buck. All of them would make my heart thud. The neighbourhood boys would try to outdo each other in their derring do, sometimes holding a string of crackers by hand and letting go at the last minute, s...