Every city is a city of lights when Diwali comes around. Endless rows of oil lamps give the occasion its name: Deep means lamp and awali means line. The holiday calls for vibrant decorations and clothes, undeniably fun firecrackers and, most noticeably, the joyous glow on people’s faces. Diwali signals a time for togetherness and jubilation.

The origin of the occasion lies in the Hindu epic Ramayana. It celebrates Lord Ram’s triumphant return to his kingdom after vanquishing evil. The kingdom puts on a festival of lights. Diwali festivities, though always offering a customary nod to religious practice, usually emphasize enjoying the company of friends and family, regardless of their religious belief.

Up until 10 years ago, young people prepared their stock of fireworks several days in advance, keeping an eye out for the latest amateur pyrotechnic technology, pleading with parents to allow the purchase of this extra “fire fountain” or that extra chakri. When Diwali finally arrived, the praying bit was fidgeted through, and parents, with much warning and cautionary
advice, let their children scamper out with bags of firecrackers. Explosions were set off incessantly, with much oohing and aahing at particularly pretty flares and laughter ringing out well past bed time.

When we grew older, we learned of the children who were our age and yet unable to enjoy the thrill and vibrancy of Diwali. They were forced by circumstance to work in factories where they produced the very fireworks we enjoyed every year. Headlines announcing dozens of deaths due to yet another blaze in some fireworks factory were intolerable after a night of festivities, and weighed heavily on our young consciences.

With the attention paid to environmental issues in recent years, schools and parents have discouraged the excessive use of firecrackers during this Festival of Lights. Children themselves have nobly chosen to abstain from setting off more than a couple of fireworks in order to support the drive for cleaner air in urban areas or reduce air pollution in their neighborhood, and thus do their part to reverse the destruction of the planet.

This year, news of a fire at a fireworks warehouse in southeastern India that claimed at least 30 lives and other similar events, may have affeted younger generations. The role of people who celebrate Diwali responsibly is becoming bigger and clearer in ensuring a safe and clean world to grow up in.