CELEBRATION OF DIPAWALI OR RAMPAGE OF POLLUTION: SANJAY RATHI

CELEBRATION OF DIPAWALI OR RAMPAGE OF POLLUTION: SANJAY RATHI

11-NOV-ENG 12

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------India is a land of festivals and celebrations. Diwali holds a special place in our cultural traditions; it symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, truth over falsehood, and hope over despair. The true essence of Diwali lies in spreading the light of joy—within our homes, our society, and our lives. Regrettably, however, the nature of this sacred festival is gradually shifting in modern times. The festival—once defined by lamps and joy—is now increasingly dominated by fireworks, toxic smoke, and the deafening noise of firecrackers. This escalating rampage of pollution has become a matter of grave concern year after year.

Today, during Diwali, the air is filled with the constant, echoing blasts of firecrackers and explosives. It seems that in our race to celebrate, we have completely forgotten our responsibilities toward our environment and the natural world. The loud, jarring noise and toxic fumes are causing immense distress—not only to humans but also to animals, birds, and plants.

On the day following Diwali—November 9, 2026—the air quality in Delhi-NCR once again laid bare the severity of the pollution crisis. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) on Monday morning stood at approximately 366, placing it in the "very poor" category. At several monitoring stations across Delhi, the AQI even surpassed the 400 mark.

The situation in other cities across the NCR was equally concerning. Morning data recorded an AQI of 372 in Ghaziabad, 338 in Noida, 323 in Faridabad, and 306 in Gurugram. In Haryana, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 401 in Bahadurgarh and 385 in Rohtak. Levels of 388 and 369 were recorded in Charkhi Dadri and Bhiwani, respectively. In many places, air quality has fallen into the 'severe' category.

These figures are not merely numbers; they reflect the state of the air that millions of people are forced to breathe. Smoke from firecrackers during Diwali has further compounded the existing pollution burden. While factors such as vehicular exhaust, industrial emissions, dust from construction activities, stubble burning, and adverse weather conditions contribute to this crisis, the use of fireworks has made the situation even more critical.

This pollution disproportionately affects newborns, young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals suffering from asthma or heart conditions. It disrupts children's education and daily routines. People face difficulties in breathing, eye irritation, coughing, and various other health issues. Toxic fine particulate matter poses a serious threat to lung and heart health.

The question remains: how long will we continue to gamble with our own health and that of our children in the name of celebrating festivals?

Another serious dimension of this pollution is noise pollution. Loud firecrackers and explosives do not just disturb humans; they also cause fear and stress for animals and birds. Dogs, cows, and other animals are terrified by the loud blasts. Many birds abandon their nests and fly away. Small creatures are also adversely affected.

Do we bear no responsibility toward animals and birds, who cannot express their suffering in words?

Our trees, plants, and green cover are not spared from this pollution either. Nature has gifted us with clean air, water, and life, yet we are actively destroying this natural wealth with our own hands. The most significant question concerns the role of governments, the administration, and the judicial system. Every year, before Diwali, meetings are held to curb pollution; directives are issued, restrictions are announced, and the matter is even heard in courts. Yet, on the ground, the expected results remain unseen.

Year after year, the same formalities, warnings, and claims are repeated. Why is it that these orders and directives are never effectively implemented? Is the administration’s responsibility limited merely to issuing orders, or does it also extend to ensuring their enforcement?

Pollution is not caused solely by firecrackers. In the Delhi-NCR region, vehicular emissions, industrial discharge, dust from construction activities, the burning of waste, and smoke from brick kilns are also major contributors to air pollution. A permanent solution to the pollution crisis is impossible unless there is strict and sustained control over all these sources.

It is time to move beyond half-hearted restrictions and seasonal directives regarding firecrackers and instead formulate a comprehensive, long-term national policy. A complete, nationwide ban should be imposed on the manufacturing, storage, transportation, distribution, sale, and use of firecrackers.

Restricting firecrackers for only a few days around Diwali will not resolve this grave issue. As long as firecrackers continue to be produced and remain available in the market, regulations will inevitably be violated.

The ban must be strictly enforced across the entire spectrum—from the manufacturing and trade of firecrackers to their eventual use. Those who violate this ban must face stringent legal penalties.

Given the extensive harm caused by firecrackers, steps should be taken to legally classify this activity as a serious offense against nature, humanity, and public health. When an activity jeopardizes the health of millions, the future of children, the lives of the elderly, the well-being of animals and birds, and the entire ecosystem, it cannot be dismissed as a minor infraction. How can any individual or industry be granted the right to endanger the lives, health, and environment of millions of people—all in the name of commercial profit or entertainment?

This is not merely a matter of pollution; it is a question of the right to life and the protection of the future for generations to come. The Parliament and the government must take concrete steps in this direction. The judiciary, the National Green Tribunal, the Pollution Control Boards, and the administration must also effectively discharge their respective responsibilities.

Appeals, warnings, meetings, and token gestures are no longer sufficient. The time has come to make firm, lasting decisions to protect nature and humanity.

Environmental conservation is not the sole responsibility of the government; society and every individual must also play their part. This Diwali, light earthen lamps, decorate your homes with lights, share sweets, and bring joy into the lives of those in need. Refrain from using firecrackers, and sensitize children toward the environment.

We must remember that the joy of festivals should not be celebrated by instilling fear in the lives of other living beings. Animals, birds, and plants have as much right to the air we breathe as we do. Human civilization can never remain happy or secure if the balance of nature is disrupted.

Diwali is a festival of light—not of smoke and explosions. We must understand the true essence of our cultural traditions. The purpose of a celebration is to share happiness, not to put the lives of others at risk.

Let us pledge to make Diwali a pollution-free, eco-friendly, and compassionate celebration.

A crime against nature is, ultimately, a crime against humanity. The silence of both society and the government regarding such offenses could prove disastrous for the future.