As the festive season of Diwali illuminates India, a growing concern shadows the celebrations: air pollution. A recent study by Airvoice, an air quality control startup, revealed a staggering 875% surge in pollution levels in certain regions during Diwali 2023. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need to rethink our festive traditions and prioritize environmental sustainability. Cities like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, already grappling with chronic air pollution, witness a further spike in PM2.5 levels during Diwali. In some areas, these levels exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by a factor of nine. This exposure to hazardous air can exacerbate existing respiratory conditions, trigger asthma attacks, and increase the risk of heart diseases.

The Silent Killer: PM2.5

The primary culprit behind this pollution surge is PM2.5, fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers. These tiny particles can penetrate deep into our lungs, causing severe respiratory and cardiovascular problems. During Diwali, the burning of firecrackers significantly elevates PM2.5 levels, leading to a sharp deterioration in air quality.

Beyond PM2.5

The environmental impact of firecrackers extends beyond PM2.5. The burning of these explosives releases a cocktail of harmful pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and heavy metals. These pollutants contribute to acid rain, smog, and climate change.

Noise Pollution and Water Contamination

In addition to air pollution, firecrackers also contribute to noise pollution. The loud explosions can disturb wildlife, disrupt sleep patterns, and lead to hearing loss. Furthermore, the debris and chemical residue from firecrackers can contaminate water bodies, harming aquatic life as the contain salts of toxic metals like arsenic, strontium, barium, copper.

Exploitation of child labour:

The exploitation of child labour in firecracker units, particularly in regions like Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, India, is a pressing issue., Families in this region, due to extreme poverty are always struggling to make ends meet and therefore often resort to sending their children to work. Children as young as five or six are subjected to hazardous working conditions, long hours, and exposure to toxic chemicals. Poverty, lack of education, and exploitative labour practices all contribute to this problem. Children working in these units face severe health risks, lose out on education, and suffer psychological trauma.

A Call for Change

To mitigate these environmental and health hazards, it is crucial to adopt eco-friendly practices. By choosing noise-free celebrations, opting for eco-friendly diyas, or participating in virtual celebrations, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and protect the environment.

The Legal Landscape

Despite numerous Supreme Court orders regulating firecracker usage, including bans on certain chemicals and restrictions on sale and bursting, enforcement remains a significant challenge. Experts argue that the lack of accountability for non-compliance renders these orders ineffective. Additionally, the court’s directives regarding timings for firecracker usage and the concept of “green crackers” have been questioned on scientific grounds. Experts contend that concentrating firecracker bursting into specific time slots and promoting less polluting crackers may not be sufficient to significantly reduce air pollution. A complete ban on firecrackers, or at least a stricter enforcement of existing regulations, is seen as the most effective solution to mitigate the environmental and health impacts of Diwali celebrations.

A Sustainable Future

As we discuss to strike balance between tradition with environmental responsibility, it becomes crucial to examine the roots of the fire cracker tradition, since the gunpowder was introduced in India in 14^th century obviously the crackers must have arrived after that. In fact after Nadar brothers started manufacturing fireworks in their Sivakasi unit in 1940 (after the Explosives Act was amended) Cracker bursting must have become more prevalent.

So traditional Diwali celebrations do not call for bursting crackers. Why are we then putting our lives and the entire biosphere at risk that too by burning the hard-earned money? Let’s celebrate Diwali as a festival of lights, rather than a festival of crackers!!