Diwali and the Environment: How Can We Celebrate Safely Without Crackers?

Diwali Precautions and Environmental Concerns

Diwali is approaching. Let us try to avoid crackers due to environmental concerns. Please find attached a file on precautions to be taken during Diwali. This information can be circulated among employees.

Thanks & Regards,
Sudhir

Thank you, Sudhir, for the valuable info.  Adding a few do's and don'ts. Follow these safety measures to make your Diwali a happy, safe, and prosperous one.

Do's:

- Always purchase fireworks from an authorized or licensed fireworks agency or shop.
- Before bursting firecrackers, look for an open space and ensure there are no combustible or inflammatory things around. Also, avoid burning fireworks or sparklers indoors.
- Keep small children away from the bursting area.
- Maintain a distance between your body (especially your face) and the crackers by extending your entire arm when lighting firecrackers.
- Use an agarbatti (incense stick), phooljhari (sparkler), or a long candle to light a cracker.
- While lighting crackers, wear heavier cotton clothes to ensure maximum safety from fire. Do not wear nylon or synthetic clothes as they can easily catch fire. Also, do not wear loose, hanging clothes.
- Read the label on the crackers and follow the instructions carefully.
- Store the fireworks in a closed container and keep fireworks stock away while lighting a particular firework.
- While igniting aerial fireworks like rockets, ensure that they are not facing any opening like an open window, door, or an open building which may cause fire accidents.
- Organize a community display of fireworks rather than individuals handling crackers.
- As a safety measure while bursting crackers, keep first aid and buckets of water handy. In the event of fire, extinguish the flame by pouring water from the buckets.
- Wear footwear while lighting fireworks.
- In case of burns, splash tap water (not ice water) on the affected area until the burning sensation reduces. Avoid any kind of friction or pressure on the burnt area and cover the area of the burn with a moist sterile bandage (do not use a blanket or towel for covering the burns). Consult a doctor as soon as possible for proper medication.

Don'ts:

- Never leave a lit match, agarbatti (incense stick), or sparkler near unused crackers.
- Do not light crackers while holding them. Not only can the cracker burst in your hand, but when you throw the cracker, you could miscalculate and hurt someone else.
- Never ignite aerial fireworks (like rockets) if there is any overhead obstruction present like trees and wires.
- Do not carry fireworks in your pocket while igniting another firework. They're explosives and can go off prematurely even if they're not lit.
- Do not tend to burst crackers when someone else is trying to ignite one.
- When crackers take time or do not ignite immediately, do not attempt to relight or tamper with the cracker. It could still go off and have even less of a wick. Let it sit for several minutes and then throw some water to diffuse them.
- Do not ignite fireworks in any tin or bottle for an extra sound effect.

Regards.

Dear Friends,

Adding to the above thread of discussion, please find some valuable info for a Greener Diwali.

ECO-FRIENDLY DIWALI

Diwali, the "Festival of Lights," is the biggest festival celebrated all over India. On the dark night of Amavasya (No Moon day), people celebrate it by lighting rows of deep (oil lamps made of clay) in their houses and streets; thus the name Deepawali (later caught on as Diwali). It creates a beautiful and incredible mystique, as if the small twinkling starlets have come down to earth to conquer darkness!

Earlier, Diwali celebrations meant house cleaning and decoration, performing traditional Lakshmi pooja, lighting diyas in the evening, and family get-togethers. But with changing times, the style of celebrating Diwali has also changed drastically. Now, Diwali celebrations mean electric illumination and bursting noisy firecrackers. This change in the celebration style has imposed many negative effects on the environment; some of the effects are listed below:

• Excessive air pollution
• Excessive noise pollution
• Soil pollution
• Excessive power consumption
• Consumerism (excess consumption means excess use of raw material)

What can we do to maximize celebrations while minimizing carbon footprints?

We can re-look and re-orient ourselves for a healthier and safer festival and environment with some of the following:

Stick to the age-old symbol and signification of Diwali

• Light oil lamps in earthenware or clay lamps; make rangolis with eco-friendly colors (lentils, floral powders, herbs, etc.)
• Use aroma candles, floral decorations, and green plantations to enhance ambiance
• Do pujas, make sweets together at home, greet neighbors
• If lighting is really important for you, then go for energy-efficient lighting which will also make your bills leaner

Avoid firecrackers

• To keep the atmosphere clean, green, and healthy, say "NO" to firecrackers
• This will also help stop child abuse as children are employed for the production of these crackers and are exposed to harmful chemicals constantly
• Use eco-friendly crackers that too in a safe allocated community center. This will increase festivity and bonding at the same time. Eco-friendly crackers are made of recycled paper, emit colored lights, and are of very low decibel sounds. There are colored paper confetti, magic pops, sparklers, etc., which are also much cheaper compared to regular crackers, are safer, and do not emit fire and smoke

Use E-greetings

• With e-greetings, you can reach all your friends and family members with one click. No wastage of paper and no jamming of the phones

Donate, do not hoard

• Do you really need all that you are shopping for? Limit your needs by reviewing your list
• Your wardrobes, storage might be bursting with new additions. Donate the old to the needy through proper channels. Do charity, fund NGOs, help the needy, poor, old, and challenged

Gift Simple, Gift Green & Gift Healthy

• Gifting organic, eco-friendly, and healthy items will make the recipient happier and will also promote such businesses. Handmade candles, handicrafts, eco-bags, eco-bottles, bamboo or jute-made products, herbal/natural cosmetics or toiletries, books on sustainable activities
• Use e-gifts

Principle of three R's

• Reduce – air & noise pollution by reassigning the importance of a smoke-free environment
• Refuse – to light crackers
• Rethink – before you go to the market to shop for toxic & expensive crackers

So spread the word and celebrate a cracker-free, smoke-free & illness-free Diwali. GO Green this Diwali.

Thanks, Sudhir, for the valuable info. Adding a few do's and don'ts. Follow these safety measures and make your Diwali a happy, safe, and prosperous one.

Do's:

- Always purchase fireworks from an authorized or licensed fireworks agency or shop.
- Before bursting firecrackers, look for an open space and ensure there are no combustible and inflammatory things around. Also, avoid burning fireworks or sparklers indoors.
- Keep small children away from the bursting area.
- Maintain the distance between your body (especially your face) and the crackers by extending your entire arm when lighting firecrackers.
- Use an agarbatti (incense stick), phooljhari (sparkler), or a long candle to light a cracker.
- While lighting crackers, wear heavier cotton clothes to ensure maximum safety from fire. Do not wear nylon or synthetic clothes as they can easily catch fire. Also, do not wear loose, hanging clothes.
- Read the label on the crackers and follow the instructions carefully.
- Store the fireworks in a closed container and keep fireworks stock away while lighting a particular firework.
- While igniting aerial fireworks like rockets, ensure that they are not facing any opening like an open window, door, or an open building which may cause fire accidents.
- Organize a community display of fireworks rather than individuals handling crackers.
- As a safety measure while bursting crackers, keep first aid and buckets of water handy. In the event of fire, extinguish the flame by pouring water from the buckets.
- Wear footwear while lighting fireworks.
- In case of burns, splash tap water (not ice water) on the affected area until the burning sensation reduces. Avoid any kind of friction or pressure on the burnt area, and cover the area of the burn with a moist sterile bandage (do not use a blanket or towel for covering the burns). Consult the doctor as soon as possible for proper medication.

Don'ts:

- Never leave a lit match, agarbatti (incense stick), or sparkler near unused crackers.
- Do not light crackers while holding them. Not only can the cracker burst in your hand, but when you throw the cracker, you could miscalculate and hurt someone else.
- Never ignite aerial fireworks (like rockets) if there is any overhead obstruction present like trees and wires.
- Do not carry fireworks in your pocket while igniting another firework. They're explosives and can go off prematurely even if they're not lit.
- Do not tend to burst crackers when someone else is trying to ignite one.
- When crackers take time or do not ignite immediately, do not attempt to relight or tamper with the cracker. It could still go off and have even less of a wick. Let it sit for several minutes and then throw some water to diffuse them.
- Do not ignite fireworks in any tin or bottle for an extra sound effect.

Hi, thanks for the inputs. I shall try to prepare a PPT and post for the benefit of members. This can also be useful for training. Thanks again.

Regards, Sudhir

Hi, good inputs. Every year, there are a lot of burn cases, especially among children who suffer burns or disablement. We should follow the rules. Take care and have a Happy Diwali.

Thanks & Regards,
Sudhir

Team,

Happy and safe Diwali to all...

Thanks for your update on time. For the last 6 years, I have missed Diwali due to my overseas assignments (it means I have not directly polluted the environment for the past 6 years through crackers/Diwali... lolzz). It's not possible to celebrate the festival of lights/Diwali without crackers, but we can try to minimize the use of crackers.

Anyhow, happy Diwali, sir.

Regards

Dear All,

Festival of Lights: Diwali

We all know the state of power generation in India. If you consider the demand for power during Diwali days, it increases by 15%. I consider this a national waste. I know I cannot change others; however, I have decided to celebrate in the following manner:

1. No electrical lighting will be done at my house. Only regular lights will be on.
2. The Akash Kandil will be an LED lamp of 3 watts (shines equally well).
3. Small lamps like "Diya aur Bati" type will be used.
4. No crackers will be purchased.
5. Breakfast will be provided for small children of some maids in our colony (prepared in-house).
6. Going on a 2-day vacation with family.

Changing others is not possible; change yourself. Please do not reply to this post with appreciations. The very reason I have done this is that if a few members adopt similar thoughts, it will help the nation to a very small extent.

Thanks & Regards,
Sudhir

Please find attached the bulletin "Safety Diwali" in English and Hindi by the Government of India. I hope you can make use of it.

Thanks & Regards,
Sudhir

Dear Team,

I would also like to request everyone not to use crackers this Diwali. Let us celebrate "A Pollution-Free Diwali" this year. Also, please take care while consuming sweets; it is better to prepare sweets at home for better health.

Regards,
Inderjeet Singh, "Born to lead"