Guwahati, Oct. 26: Anwesha, a city-based not-for-profit organisation, will organise a rally by school students on Friday to create awareness against bursting of firecrackers.

The procession will begin from Dighalipukhuri and conclude at Kamrup district court.

Anwesha president Paresh Malakar said this evening: "Bursting crackers causes sound and air pollution and immense discomfort to babies, aged people, birds and animals. We appeal to all to refrain from bursting crackers from 10pm to 6am on Diwali. We will try to sensitise the public through a procession by students on October 28."

The rally call comes soon after the Kamrup (metro) district administration appealed to the public to celebrate Diwali in a traditional manner and use earthen lamps instead of electrical bulbs. Deputy commissioner M. Angamuthu had asked all schools to sensitise students and staff about the harmful effects of firecrackers so that they use safer alternatives.

The district administration has constituted a team comprising its officials and those of Pollution Control Board, Assam, and Guwahati Municipal Corporation to inspect shopkeepers to prevent the sale of prohibited crackers.

Guwahati police commissioner Hiren Nath also appealed to the public from bursting crackers on Diwali from 10pm to 6am.

Anwesha had recently held Festival of Books for Children from October 14 to 21 at the Assam Engineering Institute field in Chandmari here.