NO fireworks, please!

For most residents of Ahmedabad, Diwali is synonymous with the dazzle and noise of fireworks — the brighter the sparkles and louder the noise, the greater the thrill. But for some, there will be an explosion of noise without the actual bursting of firecrackers. With the growing awareness and acceptance of the impact of the Festival of Lights on the environment, several groups have begun to reinterpret the rituals and traditions of Diwali to be more sensitive to nature.

“People should care about those being disturbed by the sound of fireworks. For our enjoyment, we neglect this. We splurge on crackers, only to add to the pollution levels,” said Manoj Tiwari, a resident of Memnagar, who celebrates Diwali by only lighting diyas at his home.

The temporary joy of watching fireworks displays is soon replaced by intense air pollution. The materials used to make firecrackers release toxic gases on explosion [refer box below], posing a grave threat to people. Also, the high levels of noise generated cause immense suffering to birds and animals, and are dreaded by the sick and ailing.

“Do people know the quantity of toxic gases added to the atmosphere by firecrackers? These could worsen the status of the already damaged ozone layer, resulting in various skin diseases and cancer. I have decided to not burst firecrackers on Diwali, and have been doing so for the past five years,” said Aparna Vakil, a resident of Bopal.

Firecrackers that create noise with an intensity of more than 125 decibels at a distance of four metres from the point of explosion are banned under law. “Diwali is the Festival of Lights, so people are bound to associate the day with the bursting of firecrackers. But we should understand the dangers posed by this and put in efforts to eliminate the ever-growing causes of global warming. Moreover, the state of Ahmedabad after Diwali is horrific — smoke, empty sweet boxes, wilting flowers and burnt-out firecrackers strewn all over. The residents of the city should form small groups to create awareness at least on their own streets,” said Pragnesh Shah, a resident of Vyaswadi.