Bhubaneswar: With Diwali, the festival of lights, approaching, environmental activist Sushanta Sahoo and young students across Odisha have come forward with a strong yet positive appeal to celebrate the occasion in a pollution-free and hazard-free manner.
Sushanta Sahoo has given a unique call to the public under the slogan: “Stay safe, keep others safe, save the environment, and pop balloons instead of crackers during the festival of lights.” Using colourful balloons to draw attention, he urged people to completely avoid firecrackers. Bursting crackers, he said, causes severe air pollution, damages the environment and triggers respiratory problems for people of all ages — from children to the elderly.
“Crackers in any form are hazardous to the environment. Be it small or big, they produce toxic smoke. Nowadays, many crackers create high-decibel sound like bombs, which also affect kutcha houses. The elderly, patients, especially those with cardiac and respiratory issues, suffer the most,” Sushanta Sahoo said, expressing hope that switching to balloons will help create a greener, cleaner and more beautiful environment.
Echoing the same spirit, students and social organisations have also joined the campaign for a Green Diwali. Shantanu Shantiswaroop, a Class VII student of Saraswati Shishu Vidyamandir in Bhimatangi, Bhubaneswar, has made an inspirational contribution. Using his colours and brush, the young student created a beautiful painting on the theme “Green Diwali, Clean Diwali” to spread awareness.
Shantanu appealed to people not to burst firecrackers and instead light traditional earthen lamps. He pointed out that excessive use of crackers leads to heavy air pollution and causes breathing difficulties for everyone.
The collective message from activists, students and social groups is clear and hopeful: celebrate Diwali with lights, joy and responsibility so that the festival brings happiness without harming health or the environment.
