Celebrate A Cracker Free Diwali Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

 

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During COVID-19 pandemic, we all should try to maintain a cracker free Diwali this time.

Deepawali or Diwali is the festival of lights in India. This is the most popular festivals of the country. Diwali represents the spiritual thought like, "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". Over the centuries, Diwali has become National festival as almost all the communities are involved in this festivals.

As we the Bengalis, lead the Durga Puja amidst COVID-19 pandemic, this Diwali is also going to be celebrated amidst this ongoing pandemic. For the last eight months, we have faced many unprecedented situations like nationwide lock-down, containment, isolation, quarantine etc. It took too many priceless lives.

During this festival of lights, only Delhi has burnt 5 million Kg firecrackers in 2018, yes! this very huge amount. Now, you can think how much CO₂ has released in the environment in a single day.

This year, COVID-19 has already played a role to damage the lungs of its patients. Many of them now depends on oxygen and ventilation, so, this time we should not perpetually pollute the environment just for fun.

Therefore, keeping this tragic fact in mind, we should celebrate a cracker free or pollution free Diwali this time. However, many states including ours, have banned bursting of crackers in this Diwali, 2020 which is, indeed, a great step that will be hopefully very helpful for the environment and COVID patients as well.

Air pollution affects our health

Due to air pollution, various organs of humans get damaged and main problem occurs in the respiratory organs. Different respiratory diseases  like COPD, bronchial asthma, bronchitis etc. grows in GP.

Beside this, air pollution can leads to irritation of eyes, nose and throat, fatigue, anxiety, headache, cardiovascular and various nervous system damages.

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Avoid bursting crackers

Bursting fireworks leads to increase in the pollution  at very short period of time by leaving hazardous toxins, metal particles, detrimental chemicals and smoke in the air. It retains for hours and days and many chemicals even don't disintegrate totally. After contacting with these particles, human body get poisoned.

Our country has already fighting with very poor air quality, as well as there is COVID-19 pandemic, where lungs of patients got damaged by the novel coronavirus strains.

India as the second highest number of COVID-19 infections in the world, concerning this fact; experts are fearing about worsening the symptoms of respiratory diseases if pollution goes up the threshold .

In this regard, restriction in use of firecrackers is a very good decision by the National Green Tribunal.  New Delhi and some other states like Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal have already restricted the sale and use of firecrackers.

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Maintain some protocols during Diwali

Like Durga Puja, we have to maintain some protocols this time also. Don’t forget to maintain all the protocols during distributing the gifts, visiting idol or just gossiping with the friends. Following steps are important to beat COVID-19 during this festival:

Sanitizer is good, but don’t use it before lighting Diyas or Candles

We must bear with the Coronavirus during this Diwali too, and the ultimate weapon against the virus is washing or sanitizing our hands.

The alcohol based hand sanitizers are very useful during all day as it is small  in size and easy to carry. So, don’t forget about it. Sanitizer is a must have item for this festive season amidst pandemic. 

But, there is a risk of using it during the lighting candles or diyas. As all the sanitizers are alcohol based, it is highly flammable and catches the fire very easily.

So, refrain yourself from using it before lighting the candles and keep it in safe place from fire. In this case, try to carry water and paper soap for your safety.

Wear a mask always

Whether you are with your friends, family, or neighbour, don’t remove your mask. I know it is hard but, amidst COVID-19 pandemic, you should maintain this protocol very wisely.

I know, a great proportion of face get covered by it, girls can understand the problem, when you have to makeup and wear a mask. However, if you contact any unknown person with COVID-19, then it is possible to reach the virus containing droplets to you, if you stay without a mask.

Avoid crowded place

This time celebrate the festival of lights in your own home with family members, don’t hang out for a crowded place now.

Like Durga Puja, “Kali Puja” is now at doorstep in West Bengal, and the same thing will happen, means crowding, staying in queue to visit idols, watching the idol with the crowd, pandal hopping, gossiping with the friends in the ground full of crowd etc. All of these are related to crowd which are unavoidable.

But, now a days, key concept is to maintain social distance, otherwise you may caught COVID-19. So, as far possible maintain a distance or avoid crowded place for your convenience.

I hope everything will be all right next year and then you will enjoy a lot like previous years, but for this time maintain social distance for your safety.

Help others

2020 is a dark year for our life. From March, lock-down due to COVID-19 has started in India. In this crisis, health, economy, social system has disrupted.

The exponential spreading of this virus has killed a lot of people. Many persons lost their jobs. A large quantity of people have faced lack of food, medicine, dress and so many things.

According to an ET report, Diwali accounts for over 75 per cent of firecracker sales in India. Due to banning of fireworks in Diwali, different firework shops throughout the country is facing a great loss and millions of workers lost their job. It will be not a “Happy Diwali” for them this year.

At this perspective, we are still safe and prepare to enjoy at festival. So, what if we can help someone needy. If possible, you can buy some food, medicine or new dress for those people who need it the most. After all, Diwali is a festival of happiness also.

Visit your community and extend a helping hand towards them to bring smile to their faces.  

ConScience

Nobody of us can avoid the year old tradition; it is an inseparable part of our life, so, enjoy with proper safety measures. Because, second peak of COVID-19 is about to run in India and it will increase further after this festive season.

 So, take proper care and maintain all the protocols. Always remember that safety first, for you and your family. Happy Diwali in advance. Stay happy, stay safe. Have a happy life...