The days after Diwali

Delhi had rains well into October this year. An unprecedented clean environment was the blessing of October. With Diwali coming early in November, a ban on burning firecrackers was imposed on Diwali.
While many saw this ban as an attempt to maintain the relatively low pollution levels of October in the days and weeks following Diwali, there were also voices of dissent. Some felt aggrieved as they see firecrackers as an essential part of Diwali celebrations. They felt that those celebrating Diwali, especially children, should be able to have the fun associated with burning firecrackers. Others argued that firecrackers do not affect pollution levels, while some others argued that the causes of pollution in Delhi are complex, firecrackers and stubble burning cannot alone be blamed, as vehicular pollution, constructions activities, pollution from factories and dust are amongst the many causes of pollution in Delhi.
We avidly listened to the story of Diwali from our elders after the prayers on Diwali night. It would be a rare person in India who does not know that Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Ram with Devi Sita and Lord Laxman to Ayodhya after spending fourteen years in Vanvasa or exile. The people of Ayodhya lit their houses with tiny earthen lamps to celebrate the return of their beloved King. These lamps lit the path on a moonless night as they made their way home. The story of Diwali carries a deeper social message of victory of good over evil, the triumph of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.
Diwali is a truly spectacular Indian festival. The little earthen lamps have long been taken over by beautiful electrical lights that decorate homes and business establishments, markets and residential colonies. People wear festive new clothes and splurge on the most delicious Mithais, the endless variety of Indian sweets are in abundance around Diwali. Dry fruits have been added to the fare by the affluent, even as chocolates and western cakes and cookies try to muzzle their way into the Diwali demand.
The joyous season is celebrated widely as the festival is the business new year, and is associated with important landmarks in other faiths, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains also celebrate this day.
Spectacular fireworks illuminate the Diwali skyline. The association of firecrackers with Diwali is, however, unclear. Diwali is known as the festival of lights. Indians have been bursting crackers on Diwali for as long as one can remember. The increasing affluence and disposable income of Indians, combined with a ballooning population, living in high-density cities and towns, have created a situation where each year, there is concern about the pollution caused by the bursting of crackers on Diwali night.
There is no evidence that the people of Ayodhya had burnt fireworks on the arrival of Lord Ram. The Ramayana, or the Puranas, do not refer to this. The scriptural evidence is available only for the lighting of diyas by the people of Ayodhya.
This is logical as even the predecessor of the firecracker, a type of heated bamboo that exploded when heated continuously, was used only around 200 BCE in China. The Chinese call firecrackers "exploding bamboo”, and apparently used them to scare off enemies or evil spirits. Gunpowder, a later invention, was added to firecrackers much later, around the 7th century. The Tang Dynasty in China was probably the first to have a fireworks display in 700 CE. Firecrackers were invented and first made in China and gunpowder is believed to have been taken to India and Europe from China by the Arabs. References to firecrackers in India are reported only after 1000 CE. Historians estimate that the use of fireworks during Diwali celebrations probably came into existence after about 1400 CE when gunpowder came to be used in Indian warfare.
The Indian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) developed green crackers made from cleaner raw materials with 30% lower emissions and decibels 110-125 instead of the over 160 decibels of traditional firecrackers. However, green crackers still contain harmful pollutants such as aluminium, barium, potassium nitrate and carbon. Firecrackers also release harmful chemicals like nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide, with severe impact on the respiratory health of children and the elderly in particular.
Diwali should be a time of joy and celebration for everyone. We look forward to the day when we will no longer have to hide inside our homes to protect ourselves from the noxious fumes let out in our air by excessive use of firecrackers.