Bhubaneswar: As the festival of lights approaches, environmental activist Sushanta Sahoo, young students and social organisations across Odisha have jointly appealed to citizens to celebrate Diwali in a responsible manner that prioritises health, safety and the environment.
Here are the important Dos and Don’ts for a joyful yet pollution-free Deepavali:
Dos
- Light traditional earthen diyas and candles instead of excessive electric lighting or fireworks.
- Decorate homes with rangoli, flowers and eco-friendly materials.
- Pop colourful balloons as a fun and safe alternative to crackers, as suggested by activist Sushanta Sahoo.
- Keep a bucket of water or sand ready near the celebration area as a basic fire-safety measure.
- Celebrate with family, share sweets and focus on the spiritual essence of the festival.
- Dispose of waste properly and keep surroundings clean after the festivities.
- Take special care of children, elderly people and those with respiratory or heart conditions.
Don’ts
Do not burst firecrackers of any kind — small or big. They release toxic smoke, increase air pollution and create dangerously high noise levels. - Avoid using loud, bomb-like crackers that disturb kutcha houses and cause distress to patients, elderly citizens and animals.
- Do not leave burning diyas or candles unattended.
- Refrain from overcrowding or celebrating in unsafe, poorly ventilated spaces.
- Do not litter public places with plastic or non-biodegradable decorations.
Environmentalists have urged people to choose earthen lamps over crackers so that the air remains pure for everyone. “Stay safe, keep others safe, save the environment. Citizens alike hope that this year Odisha will set an example by celebrating a brighter, cleaner and safer festival of lights.
