The festival of Diwali is observed every year during the month of November, which marks the beginning of winter. This is the time when crops are harvested and collected from fields by the agriculturists.
Diwali like many other Hindu festivities is associated with the agrarian life of the people. The festival also coincides with the new moon day. Kartika is the seventh month of Odia calendar, when a new crop season starts. The day is very precious and auspicious for the Indians, irrespective of religions since the festival is about unity, brotherhood and fellow feelings. Many types of sweets are prepared and distributed among friends, relatives and neighbours during the time.
The festival stands for light and virtue. light dispels darkness and establishes virtue. Vice has no place in Indian culture. This is conveyed to the whole world by the Indians through the festival.
Similarly, the devil is known as supreme spirit of evil by the Christians and Jews, which is not tolerated by any religion in the globe. Goddess Durga is other form of Kali, who lands in the earth for removal of devils and restoration of social harmony. This is believed by all Hindus in the universe. This is also believed by the Hindus that lord Ramachandra, the Maryadapurush or the superman of the Indian culture, landed on the earth to kill Ravana. All Hindus observe Diwali as the day of celebration over Ram’s victory over Ravan.
Not only Hindus in India but people across the globe observe Diwali with much pomp and gaiety. The whole human civilisation has now understood that peaceful coexistence among all living beings is highly necessary. Unity and brotherhood are the ideals that the Hindus have propagated since long. These are the very cornerstones of the Sanatan Dharma. Interestingly, this year, Diwali was also celebrated in the US with President Obama conveying his good wishes to the people.
The festival of light, when many kinds of crackers are exploded, creates heavy atmospheric pollution. The colourful explosions cause harms to the whole living organisms. Crackers worth crores of rupees are exploded during Diwali. The crackers are made up of many harmful ingredients. Gunpowder is the principal ingredient used for manufacturing them. The gunpowder when exploded produces sulpher dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide. The substances are very harmful not only for human beings, but also for the whole biosphere which spoils the natural characters of soil, air, water and sound. The debris of fireworks spoils the air too. Air pollution not only creates lung diseases but has adverse impact on skin of the living beings.
For own joy man brings suffering for the others. By doing this, man totally violates the principle of co-existence. Water is also not left untouched by the Diwali pollution. Many water borne diseases are created due to the pollution. It affects skin, eye, throat, digestive system, ear and several vital organs. The water bodies of ocean and fresh water sources are also chemically changed on account of poisoning of top soil of earth through these ritualistic practices.
Besides water and soil pollution, sound pollution is also most dangerous for the living organisms. The intensity of sound is measured through unit of decibels. There is a tolerable limit to sound for every animal, which varies from person to person, age to age and sex to sex. An adult man can tolerate sound up to 60 decibels or little more. If it exceeds, it is irritable. During festive occasion, sound can go as high as 100-120 decibels. When the range of sound exceeds 120 decibels, it is said to be sound pollution, and harms man and other living beings and causes damages in drum of the ear. If it continues for several hours, it can also lead to deafness. The infants and old people are more vulnerable to sound pollution. The sound also creates brain disorders and neurology troubles. Sometimes, certain lower animals meet death due to excessive sound pollution.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist)