Eco friendly Diwali Celebration

Its just two weeks to bid adios to the humdrum life and welcome the festival of Lights, Diwali is here! I’m quite excited as this is the best time of the year, when we shop, talk, eat and celebrate every moment together with friends and family. It is the most vibrant time with a beautiful weather. However, I have been quite skeptical of excess crackers during Diwali, ever since I quit bursting them, when I was in class X. Quite a long time, I quit it due the sole reason of the disaster it does!

But ever since I became a mum, I wanted my child to experience the fun of crackers, but their smoke and noise always deterred me. I’m myself allergic to the smoke coming from the crackers and so, I started exploring the “Green Crackers” last year. Though Supreme Court had banned the cracker sale in Delhi NCR last year, I’m ready to welcome their decision lifting the ban with some stringent regulations in place.

Read : 5 Tips to celebrate Eco Friendly Diwali with Kids

SC decision on Firecrackers : Why to Ban when we can Innovate and Regulate?

Today only Supreme court rolled out “No” to a nationwide complete ban on sale of firecrackers. And that’s a Happy news, as festivities need to be celebrated in traditional way, yet it calls for some responsibilities.

The major highlights of the Supreme Court’s decision are :

• The sale will be limited to only ‘Green’ firecrackers (those which are within permitted decibel limits and less pollution, norms are already in place). So ask for green crackers from your shopkeeper.
• SC imposed Time restriction, which is a wonderful move to have some time for peaceful celebrations and a good sleep. Green Firecrackers can be burnt only from 8pm-10pm. Leave no stone unturned to celebrate with more eco-friendly crackers.
• Forget E-commerce for Crackers now. As none can ensure that the “right crackers” are being sold, SC has imposed a ban on the sale of firecrackers on e-commerce websites.

I’m whole heartedly welcoming this regulation as Supreme Court didn’t overlook the right of livelihood of firecracker manufacturers. And at the same time the decision stood good per se health and festivities for billions of lives.

Now that we have stepped into the mode of bursting crackers this Diwali in an eco-friendly way, let’s get to know what are the options and alternates.

1. Eco-friendly crackers :

Various metals in conventional fireworks, gunpowder in crackers are really toxic to humans and even animals. They have resulted in lots of health issues, ranging from High B.P, Allergies, Respiratory issues, Eye irritation to even Hearing losses and at times loss of life. They add up to environment pollution, which we are as such struggling. Let’s workout small measures to improve bit by bit. 

It is our duty, as a responsible citizen, to ask for “Green Crackers and Fireworks” from the shopkeeper. Let’s join hands in abiding by the verdict as eco-friendly crackers do not contain huge amount of chemicals compared to the conventional crackers.

Often made up of recycled paper, these crackers emit less smoke and noise (well within the permissible decibels). And the best part is, they give the same colourful sparks and fun. Go for these crackers, starting from Diwali 2018.

2. Electronic Crackers :

How about enjoying the crackers without any pollution? With a little extra cost compared to the Eco-friendly crackers, Electronic Crackers are really safe and reusable. These crackers are powered by electricity and have LED’s as well to imitate the cracker lightening. They are a great option when you have small babies and kids at home. 

Have a look at this Youtube video :

3. Alternates to Firecrackers :

You can resort to alternates any time of the day and it is a real fun when kids are around. Why not have a Diwali party, with Balloon Firecrackers and Paper Poppers? Blow the colourful balloons having colorful paper flakes in them. Start the bursting competition inside the house or in the garden. We did that last year and it was a super fun for kids and all family members. No pollution, less noise and no chemicals. 

Also, look out for Glow sticks. They usually have bright colours and they sparkle up when they are waved. Quite safe and one of the best alternate of crackers for kids. As they glow more during night, kids enjoy their glow sticks a lot.

Sky / Wish Lanterns are a craze as the night falls. These lanterns are basically small sized hot air balloons, made up of paper. They have an opening at the bottom where the corners of the fuel are lit. I remember launching more than 10-12 Wish lanterns last year during Diwali, as they looked beautiful in the dark starry night. For these lanterns, just ensure that you are in an open space with no overhead objects. Launch it straight up and allow it to float in the sky. Ensure safety and light them in the presence of elders. You can read more safety instructions for Sky lanterns over here .

Diwali is a festival of lights, and celebrations and Fireworks are its integral part. Let’s continue the tradition of celebration, but let’s welcome the fresh pure breeze and good health. It’s time to be conscious about the environment we live in and initiate the efforts to keep it Clean and Green! Not just Crackers, let’s ensure a holistic Eco-friendly Diwali celebrations. 

Here are some tips to engage kids creatively this Diwali !

Happy festivities, Eat healthy, Sleep well and celebrate with all enthusiasm!

Love,