Deepavali – No Firecrackers a propaganda tactic by Anti-Hindus
By Sharan Bhagavath
It’s that time of the year – the magical, noisy, colorful, and jovial Deepavali or Diwali, where hundreds of millions of Hindus & Non-Hindus around the World celebrate the ‘Festival of Lights’. After 3 days of magical fun with lights, sweets, crackers and prayers, I met a few neighbors this morning. Here is a transcript of our conversation:
SB: Hey! Happy Deepavali!
Group: Same to you.
SB: Did you have a great time?
Group: Ok, like we hate the pollution & noise though.
SB: Yeah, but its once a year. See how many kids and adults had a blast!
Group: Why should people bother others for their enjoyment?
SB: Hmm, I did mention that it’s once a year, and that too for a few hours. Did you see the happy faces enjoying the bright flowerpots? Oh, how sparkling their eyes were while seeing those sparklers! Did you not see how thrilled the adults lighting those 100-walas were and how majestic the evening sky was with bursting rockets 360 degrees?
Group: Enjoyment is fine but it causes too much pollution and is a terrible waste of money.
SB: But whose money is that? Whose enjoyment is that? As long as people spend their money, on their enjoyment, within legal means, what’s your problem? If they violate stipulated rules such as not burning firecrackers late night, then I agree, we should voice our displeasure against such violations.
Group: But how do you justify the pollution? Do people have to use firecrackers to enjoy Deepavali? Can’t they enjoy the festival in some other way?
SB: To each his/her own! Who are we to dictate “this” or “that” is the only way to enjoy? Let me ask you something. Do you own a car?
Group: Yes!
SB: Do you have A/C at the office, in your home and in your car?
Group: Yes. So what?
SB: Do you know that the CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) emissions from air conditioners are one of the worst pollutants on this planet?
Group: C’mon, not as much as Deepavali firecrackers!
SB: Please do some research. Air conditioners used for 200-250 days of the year by you are many thousands of times more polluting to the earth than these measly 3-4 hours of firecracker time on Deepavali celebrations.
Group: But AC is necessary, unlike these firecrackers.
SB: Who said so? That’s for your comfort. When you can afford an AC with your money, then doesn’t it sound ridiculous if I tell you not to “enjoy” the AC? Let me ask you. Do you enjoy meat like Mutton, Pork or Beef?
Group: Yeah.
SB: Do you know that the meat production industry is one of the worst polluters on this planet? I can provide UN & other studies which show that water, soil and atmosphere are heavily polluted throughout the year by the meat industry. What if I tell you not to “enjoy” your meat, like you are preaching for firecrackers?
Group: But that’s nonsense. We eat the food. You don’t eat the crackers.
SB: But you can eat far lesser polluting sources of food too! Moreover, air conditioning and refrigeration are merely some luxuries afforded by a few, and are severely harming the atmosphere. What if the billions who can’t afford them tell you to stop using ACs and fridges? UV radiation is increasing due to the depletion of the ozone layer, which is due to the heavy emissions of harmful CFCs in to the atmosphere.
Group: But what’s your point?
SB: My point is, “pollution” is in the eyes of the beholder. I have never seen you strongly objecting to Bakrid or other festivals wherein animals are slaughtered on the streets, with blood polluting the drains and streets causing major health hazards. I have never seen you strongly protesting the cutting of millions of trees for Christmas, not to add the massive power usage to decorate them. Have you ever protested strongly about the loudspeaker-induced noise pollution which we have to suffer 5 times a day, 365 days a year, particularly the ones which blare before the permitted legal time of 6 AM? Why pick on Deepavali only? Is picking on Hindu festivals and customs a matter of ‘modernity’ in today’s India?
Group: You are mixing things up. You can see the pollution, dude. Check the air quality on Deepavali evening.
SB: Precisely. I know there is an increased level of pollution. But that’s for a few hours in a year. There are 8760 hours in a year and maybe this pollution is for 10-20 hours. Make it 50 hours in the worst case. But what about the severe pollution that a few rich & upper middle class people cause throughout the world for most of the 8760 hours of the year? There are clear options to avoid all of those major pollution-causing activities. Take public transit, use a bicycle, or walk to cut vehicular pollution. Use fans and you’ll cut CFC pollution caused by ACs where you can. Eat more environmentally-friendly and healthy food. Speak up against the cutting of millions of animals on streets illegally or cutting of precious oxygen-producing trees from forests for non-Hindu festivals too! But that would require you to be fair and balanced. Protest against political parties bursting noisy firecrackers when someone wins an election or it is someone’s birthday. I can go on!
Group: Whatever!
SB: Precisely! That’s what I said yesterday while firing my rockets from the terrace, to the ads preaching not to burn firecrackers! Take care and Happy Deepavali once again! Next year, make it a point to watch for more colourful rockets from that terrace! Yeah, that corner where I live!