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Young World
For an eco-safe celebration
R. KRITHIKA
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Air pollution, noise pollution or gentle lights and family get-togethers? Make a choice this Deepavali.
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A time to buy new clothes, burst crackers, light lamps, visit family...
Photo: K. R. Deepak
The festival of lights : The city celebrates.
Deepavali is possibly a child’s favourite festival. Most kids look forward to bursting crackers and stuffing themselves with all the goodies spread out. But spare a thought towards what this actually means in environmental terms: air pollution, noise pollution, increased consumption and increased use of energy.
Crackers contribute to the first two problems. Most people are now aware of the child labour aspect in making crackers but lull their conscience by buying crackers with “No child labour” labels. Have they thought of all the noxious fumes that fill the air? Crackers are made of a mix of various chemicals like cadmium, nitrate, copper, lead, magnesium, sodium and others, which may put up a great show in terms of light and colour. But what they also do is to release toxic gases into the atmosphere and inhaling these can cause a variety of health problems. The noise of the bursting crackers is another problem.
Five Rs
Those with sensitive ears, the sick and elderly, animals and birds all dread the high decibels of shrieks and bangs. Noise pollution can cause hearing loss, high blood pressure, heart attack and sleep disturbances. In some cases, it can also lead to temporary or even permanent deafness.
Deepavali is also a time to buy new stuff. No longer is it limited to clothes and jewellery. Given the variety of discounts offered, there seems to be no end to shopping. And where does it all end? Often, as non-recyclable waste adding to the huge problem of garbage disposal. The environmental NGO Kalpavriksh suggests the use of the Five Rs — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink, Refuse — before buying things during Deepavali.
As the festival of lights, this is when people decorate their houses with lights. Earlier it was oil lamps; today it is electric lights. Houses, malls, shops, roads, offices, hotels … there seems to be no end to the list. There are places in the country that do not have any electricity and here, on the other hand, we have electricity being wasted in a grand show. Stick to the older tradition of oil lamps. Yes, it does use more oil but it burns for a shorter while. Think a little and see what else you can do for an eco-safe Deepavali.
Some legends
Some say it is to celebrate Rama’s return to Ayodhya after his exile. Here are other legends behind the festival of lights. The festival is also linked to the churning of the ocean. In South India, Deepavali marks Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura. Another legend has it that the Pandavas, banished for 13 years, reappear on Kartik amavasya.
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