The festival of lights, Diwali, is traditionally celebrated by lighting earthen lamps, distributing sweets and gifts among friends and family. The practise of bursting crackers seems to have come much later and is becoming noisier by the day. Moreover, air pollution reaches dangerous levels during that time of the year.
However, over the years there have been campaigns across the country to shift to a more environment friendly Diwali. While some children learn at school to avoid crackers, others are taught at home to refrain from bursting them for the sake of the ill, infirm and pet animals, who are petrified of the noise.
One of the campaigns this Diwali saw students of a west Delhi school knock at the doors of residents to appeal to them to keep the festival noise and smoke-free. So as the camera catches a little girl painting on an earthen pot to decorate her home for Diwali this year, children are encouraged to go the eco-friendly way.
PHOTO: ANKITA SINGH
