Student Action

Diwali is the festival of lights, and people all over India, Hindus in particular celebrate by praying to Goddess Lakshmi, put up lights, oil lamps, sharing sweets and gifts, and lastly, BURSTING FIRECRACKERS.

Firecrackers are beautiful, but they can be very harmful too. After I saw the pollution outside my community, it was BAAAAAAAAAD. Even after a long time of explanations and promotion, apart from my family and our friends, not many people regarded the environmental costs of Diwali.

Land Pollution Air pollution near our community

However enjoyable the festival may be, there are many consequences to it:

- Firecrackers can cause air, land and noise pollution, there are safety hazards

- After the crackers burst, the ashes can fall and burn your body.

- Old people cannot take the noise

- The harmful fumes of the burnt crackers can make it difficult to breathe.

This is not healthy for the environment, and all who live in it.

How to celebrate an eco friendly “fun” Diwali ?

1) Put up lights and oil lamps around the house.

2) Celebrate with less crackers in a group

3) Burst limited crackers, and crackers that don’t pollute as much, Brand example: Standard’s Green Park (*see above)

What I did to be eco friendly this Diwali?

- Little crackers from a lot of friends, group celebration, less pollution

- My sister wore a “Save the Earth” shirt to promote awareness and did not burst crackers for the second year in a row.

- I told my friends about how harmful pollution can be; they agreed not to or reduce bursting crackers next year.

Pradyumna Jammi, V-C