Eco-Friendly Diwali Because Every Step Counts
October 29, 2024 2024-10-29 9:35Eco-Friendly Diwali Because Every Step Counts
Eco-Friendly Diwali Because Every Step Counts
Wishing everyone a very happy and safe Diwali! Diwali is a festival that commemorates the return of Lord Ram, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshman to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The Ram Lila, a popular drama in India, showcases the story of the Ramayana. People wish each other well, exchange sweets, and celebrate the festival with joy. Homes are decorated like wedding venues with diyas, LED lights, and colourful rangolis. Known as “The Festival of Lights,” Diwali brings excitement, but many adults and children enjoy it by bursting firecrackers. While this provides momentary happiness, it releases harmful gases and smoke, endangering lives.
Affects the lives of different living beings:
Animals, whether living in affluent homes or on the streets, suffer greatly from the loud noises and polluted air created by firecrackers. Festivals should be celebrated with bliss, not with cries of distress from animals. The loud sounds cause stress, and the bright lights exacerbate their discomfort. The unpredictability of these noises is perceived as a threat, particularly by dogs, triggering their fight-or-flight response and causing them to run frantically or bark in fear.
Humans are not immune to these effects either. The smoke from firecrackers can cause asthma, cancer, and various other serious health issues. The noise pollution can lead to stress, sleep disturbances, mental health problems, and even hearing loss. Diwali should be about lighting diyas, not about crackers; it should be about spreading happiness, not disease. The chemicals in firecrackers are extremely harmful and can cause physical harm. Additionally, the individuals who manufacture these crackers face severe risks, often suffering burns during production. The mixture used primarily consists of fine toxic dust (particulate matter) that can easily enter the lungs, along with sulphur compounds, traces of heavy metals, and other toxic chemicals. Alarmingly, the fireworks industry often relies on child labour, with thousands of children working in toxic factories, exposed to harmful chemicals that can have lasting effects. Unfortunately, there appears to be little action taken to improve their dire conditions.
Inhaling these harmful gases can lead to wheezing and shortness of breath. Burning firecrackers release lead, magnesium, and nitrates into the air. Cities like Delhi often experience nearly unbreathable air quality, and the bursting of firecrackers during Diwali further exacerbates living conditions.
Effects on Nature:
These harmful gases disrupt the balance of nature, leading to significant land pollution, which is detrimental to both the environment and human health. Another damaging aspect of using firecrackers is the substantial waste they leave behind on the streets. Piles of trash accumulate during Diwali due to firecracker debris. Many of these waste materials, such as powder and plastic wrapping, are dumped into rivers, contributing to water pollution. At a time when the climate crisis is more serious than ever, mindlessly purchasing firecrackers is nothing short of a crime. We must take immediate measures to address this issue.
Governmental Schemes:
Every year, the government introduces new schemes to manage firecrackers and the pollution they cause. However, there is often a significant gap between announcing a measure and its actual implementation. This year, the Tamil Nadu government has stipulated that firecrackers can only be set off at specific times: once in the morning and once in the evening. It remains to be seen if this will effectively deter people from using crackers.
A pollution-free Diwali ensures clean air and green spaces. It does not mean a celebration devoid of excitement and joy; rather, it signifies a return to the festival’s roots—celebrating with lights, sharing sweets, and spending quality time with loved ones. The use of eco-friendly decorations, diyas, and electric lights can enhance the festive spirit without harming the environment.
Mohini Gupta (Class VIII E)