Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India (and abroad). It falls on the darkest night of the year. The tradition of lighting lamps on this night may have come from the need for light on this intensely dark night.However, every year, the festival of lights fill our cities and environment with dark smoke. Air pollution more than doubles and big cities like Delhi become gas chambers. The toxic substances used in the firecrackers release toxic gases that are harmful to the health of all living beings.
Children and animals are the biggest victims of Noise Pollution as their defence mechanisms are not fully developed to withstand the increased intensity of noise and air pollution.
Bursting of crackers is now a means of "showing off " and is another opportunity to display ones wealth. With so many people living in poverty, burning money on crackers is a shame.
How to celebrate eco-sensitive Diwali?
- - Make Rangoli with natural ingredients like wheat or rice flour or mix with haldi, mehendi and sindur for colour. Rangoli made of wheat, rice flour provide food for ants and look more ethnic.
- - Instead of individual celebration prefer community celebration in a open ground.
- - Instead of electric illumination for long hours go for traditional lightening of earthen lamps or diyas.
- - Donate for relief operations in Karnataka.
- - Share food, sweets and clothes with the lesser privileged.
- - All gift wrapping paper should be made out of recycled paper and not glitter paper which is not recyclable.
- - Send out e-cards or text messages. No fancy Diwali cards.
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