Diwali is popularly called the festival of lights and rightly, the emphasis should be on flooding the town with lights in every nook and corner. Unfortunately, over the years tradition and custom has shifted to joy of firework display. People in Delhi and Gujarat burn tonnes of fireworks for temporary delight. Scientific documentation has proved that air pollution in Delhi after Diwali is exceptionally high. The SC in its wisdom and social concerns had banned the use of crackers in the capital, but religious fanatics have given it a communal colour. There should be voluntary control on the amount of crackers burnt. Delhi in particular is the greatest consumer of crackers and emphasis should not be on revenue but concern for health. Burning of crackers should be a community effort rather than individual show. Delhi is a gas chamber all through the year along with vehicle pollution, the stubble fires set by farmers etc. The attitude of Diwali related to fireworks should undergo a sea change keeping in mind public health and safety. Diwali is festival of lights and divas. Eventually, I feel the Supreme Court ban on crackers should logically cover all of India and people should embrace it wholeheartedly. Let us truly make Diwali a festival of lights instead of fireworks.
