Green firecrackers: A cleaner way to celebrate Diwali | Fusion - WeRIndia

Diwali is a festival of lights, joy, and celebration. One of its most popular traditions is bursting firecrackers.

While this adds excitement to the festivities, it also comes at a heavy cost to the environment.

Traditional firecrackers are major contributors to air and noise pollution, which can seriously affect human health, wildlife, and overall air quality, especially in large cities like Delhi.

During Diwali, when millions burst crackers at once, the air fills with toxic gases and thick smoke.

These emissions include harmful substances like sulphur, barium nitrate, antimony sulphide, and aluminium, which contribute to dangerously high levels of PM2.5 and PM10. These tiny dust particles can lodge deep in the lungs.

This pollution is worse because Diwali usually falls near winter, when fog traps pollutants closer to the ground.

The result is a sharp drop in Air Quality Index (AQI), making it hazardous for people with heart or lung conditions and also distressing birds and animals.

To address this, several states have started promoting green firecrackers. This year, the Delhi government has allowed only eco-friendly crackers in an attempt to reduce pollution without compromising on festive joy.

Green firecrackers are designed to cause 30-40% less air pollution than traditional ones. They do not contain banned chemicals like aluminium, potassium nitrate, or barium compounds.

Instead, they use alternative substances that emit fewer harmful gases. They also produce less noise and have lower emissions of sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide.

Though they are slightly more expensive, green crackers are a responsible alternative for those who still wish to enjoy fireworks without severely damaging the environment.

To make sure you are buying real green crackers, look for:

• CSIR–NEERI logo and certification
• A QR code or barcode for product verification
• Manufacturer name and license number
• Sales are done through authorised or licensed vendors

Choosing green crackers this Diwali is a small yet meaningful step towards a cleaner and safer environment.

It’s time to celebrate with responsibility and preserve the spirit of Diwali for future generations.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on March 19, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1202475