Why an article on Diwali in January?

Lord Rama returns to Ayodhya after 500 long years next week, and this gives me an opportunity to write about, all things, Diwali, because legend has it that he returned home on a moonless night in the month of Kartika after 14 eventful years in exile, and that his devoted subjects lit their homes with clay lamps and placed more on the roads to light his way as he walked home slowly with his beloved wife Sita and faithful brother Lakshmana alongside. I will not talk about the festival of lights per se because that is a subject properly taken up only in November. Diwali has long since come and gone. So, what is the point in my now talking about it in the middle of January? I want to raise a vexing topic that has irritated me for many years, and seems to come up each and every year just a week or ten days before the festival, with activists and others rushing to the Supreme Court complaining about Diwali fireworks. Many busybodies seem to suddenly feel that the Diwali crackers, so looked forward to by young and old alike, cause a dangerous kind of pollution that affects our respiratory processes so seriously that all of us are in danger of losing our lives. There is a lot of chatter about how the noise of Diwali crackers upsets the delicate temperament of pet dogs in South Mumbai and Lutyens Delhi. Film stars and cricket heroes have added grist to this secular mill. Miscellaneous politicians get into the act and start passing rules and regulations prohibiting the sale of crackers just days before the festival without a care for the livelihoods destroyed in the process. I think you get the general idea. Now is a time far enough away from the last Diwali and ever further away from the next one so that one may talk dispassionately about this so-called concern that many secularists seem to have. What really is the environmental impact of the fireworks that illuminate our skies during this much-loved festival? I hope that by presenting this analysis long before the next Diwali rolls up, a balanced, reasonable response may be attempted with plenty of time to think and act so that we are spared this tamasha again this November. Over time Deepavali has evolved into a national celebration. Across the globe, Diwali is a public holiday in many countries and celebrated in diverse homes such as 10, Downing Street and the White House. Its core message of light obliterating darkness and good triumphing over evil is of eternal and universal appeal. The combination of light and sound contributes to the gaiety that today cuts across religions and communities. Diwali is truly an all-India celebration. It has even become quasi-secular. Possibly it is these quasi-secular aspects that prompt ridicule and criticism by left liberal seculars who seem to enjoy taking pot shots at anything to do with Sanatana Dharma. Let us examine the scientific facts first. Traditional fireworks, with compositions involving sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate, release pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter, contributing to air pollution and health risks. The last of these ingredients is a major constituent of gunpowder and causes the sound effects associated with the crackers. Regarding the different colours in Diwali crackers, various chemicals are used in small amounts to produce these colours. Strontium compounds produce red colours. Copper chloride or copper sulfate create blue and green shades. Barium chloride produces apple green, while barium nitrate is used for green and white colours. Sodium salts, such as common salt (sodium chloride), can produce yellow colours. Lithium carbonate is used to create red and pink. Calcium chloride is used to produce orange. Magnesium is used to produce an intense white light. None of these metals, especially in a finely divided form such as is present in the smoke that emanates from the crackers is particularly good for us, especially for older people, who may suffer from allergies or from emphysema. Post-Diwali, major cities in India often witness a significant decline in air quality. Delhi, for instance, experiences a marked spike in the Air Quality Index (AQI) during this period. Before Diwali, Delhi’s AQI remains at moderate levels, but post-celebrations, it often reaches hazardous levels. Factors like Delhi’s geographical location, stubble burning in neighbouring states, and perceived inefficiencies in the Delhi government’s measures contribute to this stark difference. Coastal cities like Chennai and Mumbai tend to be less affected, benefiting from the sea’s natural ventilation system, which disperses pollutants. By contrast, Delhi, surrounded by land, becomes a shallow bowl that traps pollutants, exacerbating air quality issues. Stubble burning, a common practice in neighbouring states, worsens Delhi’s air quality. The Delhi AAP government’s efforts to address this issue has faced criticism for its perceived ineffectiveness, as stubble burning persists, contributing significantly to the post-Diwali pollution crisis. The fact that the AAP party is in power in UT Delhi and also in neighbouring Punjab only provides comic relief in the form of contradicting official statements from either side. Stubble burning has become a hot potato tossed about between Delhi and Punjab. The utterances of the Supreme Court, whose injunctions regarding a ban on crackers during Diwali are followed mostly in the breach, only add to the overall amusement. Many outside Delhi do not seem to follow these court rulings at all. The Court’s relative silence during Christmas, New Year’s Day and other non-Hindu festivals when crackers are fired, adds an unnecessary and mischievous complication to the matter. We see the secular state in action, adding to the frustration and fury of many in the Hindu community. In the pursuit of a more sustainable Diwali, the concept of eco-friendly crackers has gained traction. Unlike traditional firecrackers, these alternatives aim to minimize environmental impact by producing fewer emissions. They often substitute traditional chemical components with environmentally friendly alternatives, resulting in less harm to the environment. The Supreme Court for example has identified barium as a particularly bad pollutant, and indeed this is scientifically correct. Chromium is another toxic pollutant and results from the combustion of ammonium dichromate, a major constituent of the cracker called ‘serpent’ which puffs up into a dark-coloured mass when lit. Barium and chromium salts should find no place in Diwali crackers and need to be banned forthwith. Eco-friendly crackers explore the use of different techniques, such as controlling the combustion process and eliminating certain chemicals that contribute to pollution. This approach not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the fireworks but also aligns with a more environmentally conscious celebration. However, they are sometimes costlier than regular crackers. Sivakasi, the epicentre of the fireworks industry, sheds light on the complexities of this trade. Located in southern Tamil Nadu, it has become synonymous with firework production. Being in a rain shadow area, the production of fireworks is a primary economic choice and one almost by default. Unfortunately, this has given rise to prevalent child labour practices, emphasizing the urgent need for better working conditions and fair labour practices in the region. As we reflect in the aftermath of Diwali, it becomes clear that a holistic approach is essential. Balancing tradition with environmental responsibility requires individual choices, collective effort and meaningful government initiatives. From next Diwali, let us undertake a celebration that not just brightens our homes but also preserves the beauty of our fragile environment. Ayodhya is the most apt symbol of a new resurgence of an old and mighty Bharat that has remained suppressed and vanquished for many centuries. Evidence can be presented if evidence is indeed needed for the presence of crackers in ancient times at the time of Deepavali. But these are not matters of evidence and the courts. These are matters of faith, devotion and love to an ancient civilisation that is waking up. We will see therefore a rapid and scientific resolution of the problem, if there is one, of Diwali crackers spoiling the environment. The secularists have done enough damage to the body politic of this country. There are many non-issues like the Diwali crackers that have been raised to the level of major problems by the break India forces. Hopefully, we shall see a speedy end to all these political shenanigans in the very near future. The author is in the Indian Institute of Science and has authored a book Bharat: India 2.0. Views expressed here are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.