City schools, gurdwaras advocate green Diwali

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 17

City schools have been campaigning for an ‘eco-friendly’ Diwali this year. Not only awareness functions and activities are being organised in schools to make students aware about the ill-effects of bursting crackers but they are also being encouraged to celebrate the festival in other ways than bursting crackers.

Several schools have organised such functions on their respective campuses. Government schools have also been organising awareness sessions for students where they are urged to shun crackers. Recently, such a session was organised at Government Model Senior Secondary School, PAU.

Even parents are being encouraged by schools to celebrate the festival in a green way. The SMSes and communications are being sent to parents appealing them to celebrate a green Diwali. An SMS from a private school reads: “Dear parents, show that you care. Celebrate Green Diwali.” A message from Guru Nanak International School addressed to parents reads: “Say no to crackers. Let’s celebrate a pollution-free Diwali this year.”

There are some gurdwaras in the city which are emphasising on celebrating a green Diwali. Speaking to the congregation on the occasion of Sangrand today, Vasakha Singh from Gurdwara Sukhmani Sahib said in Gurbani also, air has been regarded as Guru, water as father and the earth as mother, so all must make efforts to reduce environmental pollution.

He said instead of bursting crackers, people should come and plant saplings in the park in front of the gurdwara in the evening. Devotees should rather light ‘deeve’ (earthen lamps) which are more eco-friendly than candles.