Let There Be More Light, Less Noise This Deepavali

With intensive campaign across the country for eco-friendly Deepavali, many organisations are preparing to celebrate festival of lights with more light and less noise. Despite the fact that bursting of crackers is an integral part of this festival, the need to protect the environment is being seriously considered as a major chunk of people are of the view to make it a green Deepavali this year.
It is pertinent to point out that the civil engineering students of Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology jointly with Social Club ‘Eagai’, Eco Green Club ‘Manvaasam’ & CESA Studio and Inaintha Karangal, an NGO took up the initiative to celebrate ‘Green Diwali’ with the tribal school children and tribals of Panapalli near Anaikatti.
Speaking to this scribe, Dr Alagarsamy, HoD, social work department at Sri Krishna College of Arts and Science and PRO for Krishna group of institutions said that about 50 students and faculty members of SKCET took part at the event which included Green Diwali, awareness of rain water harvesting, air pollution, plastic pollution, tree plantation drive, games for teachers and students, tribal dance.
The most interesting part of the event is that the festival was celebrated sans bursting of crackers. Instead, the participants created awareness on cracker less Deepavali to protect the environment and safeguarding birds. The main focus of the event is to emphasize pollution free Deepavali. Competitions were conducted for tribal children wherein prizes were distributed to winners. About 30 students from Grade 1 to 5 of Government Primary School, Panapalli participated in various events conducted at Panapalli village. The villagers, teachers and parents expressed happiness in taking part the Green Deepavali event. Inaintha Karangal Josuva, Principal Dr.J.Janet, Head of the department of Civil Engineering Dr.Maruthachalam were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan during an event organised by CSIR in Delhi announced that green crackers with 30 per cent lower emissions will now be available in the market. All our efforts will be made to control pollution. However, people’s sentiments will be protected, he noted. But, the general perception among the people across the country is to make it cracker less Deepavali.