Celebrate Green Diwali
By Dr Arvind Kumar
The entire nation is brimming with enthusiasm and joyful spirits of the festival of lights ‘Diwali’. This festive occasion is celebrated with renewed fervour and on this occasion, people buy new house, new cloths, many houses and shops get a fresh coat of paints, and are well decorated. There is exchange of sweets and gifts among relatives and friends, business clients and partners and last but the least, buying the firecrackers. This means a huge business for the apparel industry, firecracker, paint and household items and for sweets and gifts. According to broad estimates, the budget of corporate “gift” alone exceeds Rs 3,200 crore, and the sale of firecrackers to above Rs 500 crore. In all, India spends over 5000 crore rupees for the celebration of this annual event.
Excessive consumerism, high-energy consumption and air pollution through firecrackers, are the three major concerns from the environment point of view. We should celebrate a green ‘Diwali’ so that the deliberate assault on the Mother Nature is stopped and at the same time, the spirit of the festival is not compromised.
The festival of lights puts a considerable load on electrical energy sources that are already overloaded. The use of electric lights to adorn homes, business establishments, monuments and roads requires a huge amount of electricity. Judicious use of electrical consumption should be made and earthen lamps or diyas be lit to keep the festive spirits. Old clothes, utensils and other products can be donated to poor persons, instead of throwing them in the dustbin.
