Small earthen diya, once the quintessence of Diwali, retreating steadily in the wake of the aggressive invasion of electric lights and the like, the Gayatri Pariwar in Haridwar is all set to light thousands of ‘diyas’ on the bank of Ganga this Diwali.
Head of the World Gayatri Pariwar, Dr Pranav Pandya asked 4,800 Gayatri Pariwar branches based across the country to celebrate the festival of light sans crackers. He himself would lead things by lighting ‘diyas’ along with thousands of volunteers on the bank of Ganga by way of celebrating Diwali.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Dr Pandya said, “We welcome lakshmi and worship her to mark Diwali festival. Besides, the diyas being used on a large scale would bring prosperity in the homes of the potters who are struggling hard to survive . This would in its turn help our country become self -reliant.”
Explaining the science behind diya mitigating environmental pollution, he said, “Mustard oil being used in lighting a diya, it produces sulphur that kills bacteria, virus and mosquitoes, thereby improving the environment for human beings. Cracker pollutes environment, making people, even the children, vulnerable to asthma.”
It is unfortunate that the people are inclined to squander away crores of rupees on buying crackers, he said, adding that the parents and the teachers should come forward to explain to the children of the ill effects firing of crackers leaves on human health. “The children must be persuaded to celebrate Diwali sans crackers and with diyas for the wellbeing of all,” he said.
Dr Pandya also announced that a fund would be created to facilitate treatment of the people who sustain injuries due to crackers. He further said that the students of Gayatri Pariwar had pledged to celebrate Diwali without contributing further to the sound and air pollution through shunning crackers of all kinds.