Boys have already started bursting firecrackers on the streets as the zeal
of festivity is increasing. Diwali is just round the corner and the festival
reminds children of firecrackers!! I was no different in my childhood. My
father used to purchase sparklers, ground chakkars, flower pots, twinkling star
and a packet of crackers. But as I entered secondary school, he used to
convince me to burst lesser firecrackers as they cause heavy air pollution. By
the time I entered high school, we discontinued buying crackers. We used to
celebrate Diwali by taking oil bath in the early morning as some sweets are
prepared for noon as oils are lighted in the front of the house at evening.
What is the relevance
of Diwali?
Diwali is celebrated to commemorate the
return of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana after completing 14 years of exile (vanavaasa) and
killing of the demon king Raavana from Lanka. Ayodhya residents had welcomed
their cherished prince by lighting diyas (ghee lamps).
Naraka Chaturdashi is celebrated one day before Diwali as
the day Lord Krishna and Satyabhama’s victory over Narakaasura. Thus both days hold
significance as two incarnations of Vishnu had achieved victory over demons. I
don’t know when the use of fireworks had started!! But I was wondering how it
might have come into practice to burst firecrackers during Deepavali? Someone
told me that the purpose of bursting fireworks was to drive away evil spirits!!
“Oh!! What an idea sir ji!! Pataaki jalaake (udaake) bhootonko bhagaa
denge!!!” But with our ‘extra’ enthusiasm to drive away evil spirits,
“dev deviyaan bhi bhaag gaye to?” They have no answer to this question.
Should we use
fireworks during Diwali?
It is difficult to curtail the use of fireworks completely. But some
initiative must be taken in this direction too as fireworks are hazardous to
mind and body. Nature is, however, a victim anyway with air, water, soil and
noise pollution!!
It is quite common every year to hear reports about people losing their
vision, hand or other vital organs on account of bursting of firecrackers.
Accidents occur due to people’s carelessness or due to the usage of substandard
fire crackers. But finally the result is miserable.
Special care should be taken with infants and toddlers. There is a
greater possibility of them getting scared due to huge sounds of fire crackers
which may also pave way for mental stress. In severe cases, this effect of
trauma may last long or may be for lifetime.
It is a well known fact that inhaling of smoke is harmful for health.
Children in particular should not be exposed to such thick smoke which emanates
from fire works that can easily cause some respiratory disorders.
We should not forget the Sivakasi tragedy which took place just two
months ago. Nearly 40 people lost their lives and hundreds were injured due to
inadequate safety measures be undertaken in the factory building. Few years
back, similar tragedy had taken place and people had lost their lives in the
same place.
I appeal to people to stop bursting fireworks as I am concerned about
human lives. Many children and youths are not really careful while bursting
fire crackers. For instance, a physically handicapped woman was walking in the
bylanes. Some boys were bursting firecrackers in the vicinity. Suddenly they
started screaming at the woman to go away from the place. Thankfully, she could
move two steps away and the cracker blasted there! When she asked the children
to be cautious while bursting crackers they turned a blind eye towards it. When
I interfered, they calmly said, “It’s Diwali festival, so we are bursting
crackers. She should have been careful!!” How adamant! They simply ignored my
request. The women sighed that she could rescue herself! But the question which
arises in my mind is can someone harm the other for the sake of having fun!
It is time for the government to take immediate steps to curb the menace
by allowing the sale of only sparklers, twinkling stars, flower pots or such
burning fireworks in the open market so that children can have fun during
Diwali. High decibel firecrackers should be banned to rescue people’s lives.
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