YES
SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES
I must confess that I celebrate both these festivals but with limitations since there may otherwise be serious consequences. Fireworks on Diwali may lead to allergic asthma and severe chest congestion, hearing impairment due to high decibel blasts, and vision problems. So it is justifiable that we give up crackers on Diwali and save water on Holi. We should also raise awareness so that people know of their ill effects on society.
Promit Jalal,
Dum Dum Motijheel College, Calcutta
UPSETS GOD
Celebrating Diwali with crackers and Holi with water will surely harm nature and festivals aren’t meant to upset God. We have deviated from the divine aspect of every festival and caged ourselves in worldly rituals. The true aim of every festival is to honour God. So we should not do anything to harm that living god — Mother Nature. Rather we should act as chaperones to ensure the best conditions for the survival of all dwelling on Earth.
Shagufta Yasmin,
Kairali School, Ranchi
ALL ABOUT SHARING
Festivals are all about sharing but now Diwali is about disturbing people and animals. Holi could be more enjoyable if we celebrate it by using less water and save it for the future. Diwali and Holi should be celebrated the way they were meant to be — “festival of light” and “festival of colour” rather than making them “festival of crackers”or “festival of water”.
Atinder Kaur,
Kazi Nazrul University,
Asansol
HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH
In a parched country like India, it is everyone’s duty to save water. As for crackers, they should definitely be banned — be it during Diwali or any other celebration — because they contain chemicals that poison the environment and are hazardous to our health.
Atriz Ray,
Academy of Technology,
Adisaptagram, Hooghly
NO
TOKENISM NO GOOD
Saving water just on Holi cannot solve the water scarcity problem, nor can the pollution problem be solved by giving up crackers on Diwali. If we are really concerned, we ought to save water by checking wastage of water on the streets and in homes. To check air and sound pollution, we should minimise use of private vehicles and resort to public transport as far as possible. We have to be responsible towards our environment on a 365-day basis and not only on a particular day.
Vivek Chandak,
M.C. Kejriwal Vidyapeeth,
Liluah
IMPORTANT TO US
Holi and Diwali are important festivals of Hindus and people have been celebrating these by bursting crackers and playing with colours for ages. The government should plan the ban properly so that the livelihood of small workers, manufacturers and traders is not affected. People should be given the freedom to burst crackers which causes less pollution and sound. Similarly people should be allowed to play with water during Holi.
Sumit Agarwal,
Goenka College of Commerce, Calcutta
INJUSTICE TO THE OLD
I strongly believe that saving water in Holi and giving up crackers on Diwali is tantamount to doing injustice to all Indians. Celebrating festivals bring joy and happiness, especially to our great grandparents. Saving water in Holi and preventing pollution by giving up crackers for just one day will contribute nothing to our environment. Conservation is not a one day act but a long term initiative.
Proheli Paul,
Techno India Group Public School, Calcutta
Next issue: Will using only public transport cut down air pollution?
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