CHENNAI: It was a celebration with a difference. The noise of firecrackers is an integral part of the festival of lights. But villagers abutting the Koonthakulam bird sanctuary in Tirunelveli district opted to celebrate Deepavali in silence as they did not want to disturb birds that throng the sanctuary from different parts of the world.

Impressed by the solidarity shown by villagers, including children, in protecting the birds, Inspector-General of Police of Special Task Force C. Sylendra Babu sent a special team to celebrate the festival with them. The villagers and police celebrated the festival without bursting a single firecracker. STF personnel distributed sweets and fruits as a goodwill gesture.

Bursting of high-intensity crackers scares away wild animals. “We are trying to showcase Koonthakulam as a model and create awareness in villages abutting forest areas. Villagers should come forward to give up use of crackers during festivals and other occasions in the interest of wild life,” says Dr. Babu.

To start with, STF personnel intend to talk to villagers along forest borders in Erode, Salem and Coimbatore districts. To conserve the forest and protect the flora/fauna is one of the duties of the force, he added. Additional Superintendent of Police R. Thirunavukkarasu led the STF men to celebrate Deepavali in Koonthakulam.

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