Celebration of Diwali -21st Century Style

 

When I try to reflect what kind of celebration of Diwali must have actually taken place when Lord Rama would have returned to Ayodhya after spending  14 year long exile, I visualize simple people of Ayodaya, dressed in khadi clothes, dancing and singing songs in praise of Lord Rama. During that night both sides of the paths leading to Ayodaya must have been lit with earthen diyas filled with desi ghee which is learnt to possess the properties to purifies air. They must have also made homemade sweets like halwa/kheer/ladoos etc.

But just see how are we celebrating this great festival now? During Diwali night, one can feel as if one is inside a battle field. Old people or the ones suffering from some infirmities cannot have sound sleep throughout the night due to incessant sounds of crackers with varying frequencies. Bursting of some crackers resemble the sound of AK47/SLR bullets. Some burst like cannon shells. Some rockets line up the sky as if Agni or Trishul missiles have been pressed into action against an enemy. On the streets or in the court yards assemble people in small numbers to enjoy the spectacles created by fireworks. The poisonous smoke emitted  by fireworks load our already polluted air with pollution taking AQI levels to dangerous limits which is compelling state governments to mull the closing of schools for weeks. We need to act now otherwise it will be too late. Just image-how attractive your homes would appear if you only lit them! Why can’t we leave bursting of crackers?

The corrupt officials await this festival with different motives. Yes-you have guessed right! Apparently-looking-fruit/sweet-packs might contain something expensive gifts! But there are some, though in minority, who refuse to entertain any such guests who visit them on this days in advance with dubious designs! Some start visiting officials even a couple of days ahead of Diwali.

In schools we conduct debates on the celebration of cracker free Diwali. Various painting competitions on the theme of “ Cracker Free Diwali ”  are held in almost all schools of our country. My head hangs in shame when I feel that these competitions hardly create any tangible impact on the young minds. Parents and communities give a deaf ear to the idea of celebrating this great festival with traditional devotion and simplicity.

During these days when burning of stubble becomes a huge health hazard in NCR and its surrounding areas, air quality index touches dangerous limits with the burning of fire crackers on Diwali. This results into causing lung infection and other multifarious breathing problems.

I feel our mainstream media must play proactive role in sensitizing people about the ill effects of fire crackers. Our leaders may address people on social, print and electronic media to celebrate this great Indian festival without causing any damage to our environment. Some governments impose restriction on the sale of firecrackers but that is not given any heed. Instead of banning the sale of crackers-we need to stop their production. This industry and workers employed in it may be provided with alternative solutions.

During my childhood days 40-50 years down the lane, we could experience continuous rains spanning over 6 to 7 days on a stretch during rainy season. Now it has become a thing of the past. We had never heard rains causing floods in Rajasthan. The increasing incidents of landslides in hilly areas and excessive heat during summers indicate that something wrong has happened to our environment. So let us pledge to educate ourselves to keep our air clean. For this we need to plant more trees, stop burning stubble and to shun burning of   firecrackers. We should also keep our water bodies clean. Let’s say no to polythene bags, eat organic food and live life of simplicity.

Our honorable Prime Minister has set the target of achieving net zero carbon emission by 2070 at COP26 in Glasgow, coincidently near Diwali, this must put all of us on our toes to achieve it. We must realize that our leaders may set targets but in the end it comes down to us to achieve them especially when it comes to the protection of environment.