The ‘holika’ burns tonight symbolically burning away the bad the evil that may have been invested in us throughout the year. Some colors and ‘pooja’ essentials are complied with, the auspicious coconut is broken, abuses to the fire representing the evil holika are muttered as per tradition and the ‘gujiya’ made specially for the occasion are devoured with great relish.

It would be difficult to put in writing what those elements are that we have wished to be burnt in this auspicious bonfire, but suffice to say it cannot be some guessing game here by the others. Many a journal and journalist would perhaps have found their way into the fire, along with several other personnel or just something abstract, but divine justice sometimes also plays an important part and much though we may desire some form of civility, we discover that what we desire happens quite by accident. The paper used to flame the fire could be the news paper that is set up to get the fire going and so on. Some kind of poetic justice here prevails. Whether or not it actually cleanses the situation remains to be seen, but … there it is ..

The Enlighten Society for film was a busy and truly enlightened affair. A packed auditorium … well a completely full multiplex theatre - welcomes me and my body of work from the earliest film to the latest and it was remarkable how they had set up a visual delight of various clips from films seen unseen and right down to my latest attempt. After the visuals a discourse is encouraged and it does turn out to be a rather interesting hour of answers, questions and analysis. It is interesting to note the interest that such a moment activates, the queries from the audience and finally their decision to move away from it all.

There is a celebration today by Reliance, to celebrate the year of films and associations that they worked along with and Paa is one of them. So we are present in all our fineries, as are the rest of the Industry. It is a joy to work along each and every decade that went by for me and a wonder at times of what I am still doing here. In all a quiet dignified evening. The children have decided to fraternize so Abhishek and Aishwarya have trundled off with ShahRukh and Hrithik and Karan and Rohan - their gang - to I think ShahRukh’s place to spend an extracurricular evening !! And I have decided to be faithful to my EF and enjoy their companionship.

But not for long … it is turning in to be 3 : 09 AM … time, I would imagine, to be getting in a short while for the morning alarm to ring !!

Good night dearest ones … the eyelids revolt …

Amitabh Bachchan