As I hold my pen, I hear various kinds of ear-splitting sounds. I feel like I’m trapped in a battlefield. I’m sitting on the terrace and spectacular fireworks make the sky appear like an artist’s masterpiece. The evening air is rather dry and smells of burnt chemicals — not quite what I expected. The clouds above are stained red, not because of the setting sun, but because of the fireworks. The dusky sky lit by fireworks stirs me to pen down my thoughts though the terrace is not the most ideal place to sit down and write.
The country celebrates the festival of lights — Diwali — to signify the victory of good over evil. It is supposed to be a pleasant day, but it doesn’t seem so anymore. If not for the breathtaking array of fireworks, it would rather give the impression of doomsday! The soaring levels of noise make it impossible to have any peace and most of us would soon end up deaf. The concentrated air generously contributes to the increasing pollution. And moreover, my pet kitten is terrified to go out!
People suggest many solutions to the problem, but these solutions are of no use unless we stop the excessive use of crackers. If everyone does their bit in preserving the environment, then Diwali would be truly “lively”. And that is what I would call a “Festival of Lights”.
The writer is a student of XII A, St. Ursula’s AIHSS, Church Park
