A Green Diwali This Year… Some Small Steps
Tips for a Green Diwali
Come Deepawali and every green organization starts cribbing about the harm caused by the crackers. It’s true and I won’t disagree but now a days I have seen people making conscious efforts to enjoy and reduce the harmful pollution of crackers at the same time.
Community celebrations in an open place are increasing. Everyone enjoys even if they don’t have many crackers to burst themselves including the underprivileged kids. This limits the number of fireworks.
More regulated selling of crackers by government has led to decrease in unnecessary buying and promoting good quality crackers.
One should always collect burnt crackers in one bucket filled with sand so that they don’t harm anyone and easier for the cleaners next day to collect. This will reduce soil and water pollution.
It’s entirely up to us now to restrain ourselves from over burdening ‘Mother Nature’. There are certain facts regarding crackers which we all know but we don’t want to remember at this time because of our ego. Fireworks were invented in ancient China in the 12th century to scare away evil spirits, as a natural extension of the Four Great Inventions of ancient China of gunpowder. There is no mention of fireworks in ancient India in any historical literature. Isn’t it time to think how did they celebrate Deepawali??
The other environment unfriendly practice is continuous electrical illumination. With the current drought, power shortage and erratic supply is it ethical to cover entire apartment complexes with thousands electric bulbs for 5-7 days. Living in one the biggest condominiums of Bangalore I haven’t seen a single apartment having a row of Diya’s on its balcony for the last five years. It’s ironical that Deepawali means ‘Row of Diya’s’ .
This year use Diya’s in place of electrical lights. Benefits of using Diya’s’ (earthen lamps) are many.
The first one being used less. Diyas’ look magnificent in a dark night and few give the required glow/grandeur/ethnic feeling/closeness to nature. That’s the effect of naked flame. Using less will save lot of power and pollution.
Use of diya’s promote local craftsmen. Use of Diya’s kill harmful insects which breed after the rainy season ends.
Prior to burning soaking of Diya’s in water to decrease the absorption of oil is a must. This year put few drops of lemongrass essential oil in the water. Such Diya’s will burn with smell of lemon grass repelling all the mosquitoes. Boiling marigold petals and using that water for soaking Diya’s also give similar effect.
Don’t buy the Diya oil. These are a mixture of harmful petroleum products usually some waste machine oil giving vapours very bad for our lungs. Natural oils like mustard, sesame and coconut were traditionally used so use them this time with few drops of essential oil of your choice. This make the house smell better with all the benefits of aromatherapy.
The third non green practise is wastages. Please avoid unnecessary purchases. Donate excess food items. Get reusable decorations, cloth shopping bags and eco-friendly gifts. Avoid disposable stuff as much as possible.
Go Little Green this Diwali
image http://www.clcd.com/features/th_diwali.php
