This Indian life by Shoba Narayan: Did WhatsApp group messaging make Diwali fun?

Even a festival cannot be all happy happy when you are a member of a massive WhatsApp group

So how was your Diwali, Ji? Happy happy? Khao, piyo, khush raho types? Did you burst crackers? Can I just say this? I understand how bursting crackers is bad – for pollution, the environment, child labour and dogs – but God, my entire childhood memory of Diwali in Chennai is linked to waking up at the crack of dawn and bursting crackers.

The birth of a new WhatsApp group is a joyous thing. But then, every WhatsApp group has a life cycle.(Shutterstock)

Spiritual forwards form the bulk of messages, proving that religion is indeed the opiate of Indian masses