Diwali is a festival of light, food, music and fire crackers. We all love to burst crackers on this day but let’s try to keep it eco friendly.
Just a day before Diwali we celebrate Dhanteras
On this day we buy new things and worship it before using. It can be anything precious like gold, silver coins, idols or any other metals like utensils, etc.
Lets see what are the dates and timings for Dhanteras
Kartik month Krishna Paksha Thrayodashi Tithi starts – 22nd October 2022 from 6.02 pm onwards.
Kartik month Krishna Paksha Thrayodashi date ends – 23 October 2022 till 6.03 pm in the evening.
Auspicious time for worship – 23 October 2022 from 5:44 pm to 6.05 pm on Sunday evening.
Let’s know about Diwali
Subh Mahurat of Diwali for 2022 on October 24 with the rituals of Lakshmi Puja will be between 6:53 PM and 8:16 PM. However, there may be variations in the timings according to the cities.
What History Says
If we see historically, Diwali is celebrated to acknowledge the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhaya but at that time in ancient history people used to light lamps. So, there are no mentions of firecrackers being burst in Ayodhaya in Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas.
But if we see a specific verse on page 839 it says, “…There was a sound from the sky, the whole Ayodhaya was decorated with flowers, a special fragrance was scattered in the streets.” However, there are no mention of bursting of crackers.
It is believed that the history of Ramayana is 5000 years old but the use of firecrackers actually originated from China in about 2200 years ago. These firecrackers were not made from gunpowder (like present days) but from bamboos. The firecrackers made out of gunpowder also started in China in the 9th century.
Here we go listing you types of firecrackers, which makes Diwali night shimmering…!!!
Crackle Bombs
Smoke bomb is of 2 variants: the cylindrical smoke grenades and the colorized smoke balls. It pops and release smoke. Few of its types can simply be lightened with fire and thrown away, its sound will give you goosebumps.
Fountains
It is also called as Anar, relatively safe to use. These can cone shaped, sits on ground releases lots of colorful sparkle. Fountains are ideal for parents who are looking for mild, simple fireworks, costs less and looks beautiful.
Ground Spinners
The name Chakri used for these fireworks sums them up pretty well, they spin on the ground when lit up, releasing sparks in all directions. Small and big both size looks incredibly pretty, seem as if a flower is blooming.
Sparklers
These were mainly created with kids in mind and are generally safe, made up to metal or papers, sticks give off golden sparks when it’s lit. You can simply wave around the sparklers so as to create a beautiful light show as well.
Poppers and Snakes
Commonly known as snaps and are the ultimate safe for kids. These have a tiny string and usually have a bottle-shaped appearance, when you pull on the string, it starts to shoot out confetti or pops. These fireworks contain minerals that cause a small pop when they come into contact, after the string is pulled. creating a thin, brittle line of carbon ash, which often looks as if a snake is just coming out of the ground.
Roman Candles
Conventional candles, has a string out from one end. When lit, tends to shoot off light like colorful balls. Some of the balls that are released often flash, explode, even crackle for a little bit before they crackle out completely
Missiles and Rockets
Bottle rockets are available in various, light the stick and it goes to sky. But do check state laws before buying it as it is banned in some states, due to its direction risk if it’s not kept straight to fly sky while lighting.
Aerial Repeaters
It consists of a number of different fireworks that are all bundled together to form a sort of “cake.” Each of these tubes has a tiny shell that explode up in the sky, thus creating a continuous blowing fantastic display.
Peony
It releases no trails and simply explodes in the sky after reaching a certain height above, creating a beautiful, multicolored, globe-shaped display coming in various sizes. And Chrysanthemum spatters bright lights in a circular shape
The above listed fire crackers are the conventional fire crackers that have been used over long period of time. However there are new types of fire crackers available.
What is Green Diwali?
You must be thinking, what is color green doing in Diwali? Here I am throwing light on it –
Green Diwali means Eco Friendly Diwali. Less emissions, Less health issues, more organic and smoke free. To be free of harmful ingredients like arsenic, mercury and barium.
What is Government take on this
Minister for Science and Technology, Health and Family Welfare and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, launched a set of new crackers last year that ensures to help reduce particulate emissions by 30 % while producing the same level of light and sound effects of traditional fireworks. These crackers are based on formulations developed by a consortium of eight laboratories under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) led by Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute.
Here are the list of some interesting ways to celebrate eco-friendly Diwali –
Green crackers
- It is an idea by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, do not contain harmful chemicals. It means that less pollution emission resulting in reduced air pollution.
Green crackers or eco-friendly crackers are manufactured from alternative raw materials to leave a lesser impact on the environment and causes lesser health risks.
It has been explained that green crackers don’t contain aluminum, barium, potassium nitrate or carbon, making them eco-friendly.
- These eco-friendly crackers can be bought in government registered shops and also online.
Like Flower pots, pencils, sparklers and chakkar. Talking on the green crackers, the minister also said the environmentally friendly crackers will help maintain the vibrant tradition of celebrations besides also providing livelihood to millions of homes that are purely dependent on the manufacture and sale of fireworks.
- As per the instructions by the government, the green crackers manufacturers have printed a green logo developed by the government and a quick response (QR) code on the crackers and packets so as it helps all to distinguish them from the regular ones.
- This is a 400-year-old way of making crackers. Nital Gandhi, the president of Pramukh Parivar Foundation said, “These firecrackers are 100 percent indigenous. Kothi’s are made out of clay. A potter made them using clay. Chakri is made out of paper and bamboo. Our aim is to provide as much employment to the local artists. These are eco-friendly. They dissolve after being used.
Below are the list of ways to celebrate Eco -Friendly Diwali, which is also safe for children –
1. Use the Earthen Lamps are your best friend if you want to celebrate a pollution-free and eco-friendly Diwali.
2. Clay Diyas to support the livelihood of potters as diyas made from wax, plastic/foam/fiber are non-biodegradable.
3. Use candle instead of light for house all around
4. Keep it Organic Rangoli with natural ingredients like rice powder, cloves/ cinnamon(brown), turmeric.
5. Use the 3D Fireworks are available with 3D glasses at present, and these crackers are developed to be Eco-Friendly, they are pollution free and does not make any sound. Also cost, they start from Rs 500 to the highest level as per the quantity.
6. Finally, Say No to Plastic Wrappers for gifts and decorations. Instead of wrapping gifts in plastic packets, use bio-degradable bags or papers which are completely compostable.
Hope you liked reading though this blog. Have a happy and prosperous Diwali.
-Posted by
-Sweta Shashi