Assam’s Green Oscar awardee campaigns for a sustainable Deepawali celebration

GUWAHATI- Yesterday, the country has celebrated its one of the most anticipated festival, Diwali. Crucially linked to the Indian mythology and history this festival has a significant influence among the people of the country.

However due to the widely use of different types of firecrackers burnt to mark the occasion has quite an impact on environment creating air and sound pollution which have a devastating effect on human health, wild animals and our environment. Environmentalists have always shown their concerns over the use of firecrackers. Whether during the Diwali or any other occasion, firecrackers always adds negative effects on the environment, animals as well as on the health of people.

Assam’s Green Oscar awardee and environmental conservation organisation Aaranyak’s senior wildlife biologist, Dr Purnima Devi Barman and a women led environmental group the Hargila Army campaigned across Kamrup district of Assam urging people to observe a sustainable Deepawali. The team has organised various outreach activities such as street plays, public announcements, and poster presentations, on 23rd and 24th of October with the aim to reduce the usage of firecrackers and promote a sustainable celebration.

“Diwali is a festival of light. We should come forward to celebrate this holy festival by lighting Diyas and lights. Let us all come forward to drop the usage of firecrackers and make this celebration a sustainable one by keeping in mind the health of environment and our people”- Purnima, the Nari Shakti Puraskar awardee says during a public announcement yesterday at Kamrup.

Kamrup’s Dadara and Pachariya holds breeding colonies of endangered Greater Adjutant Storks (Locally known as Hargila). Dr Barman, who founded the Hargila Army, and head of Aaranyak’s Greater Adjutant Conservation Programme, have formed a troop of hundreds of women voicing and acting for the conservation of Hargila. This effort of promoting a sustainable Diwali is also a part the conservation efforts.

“In Kamrup, The Hargila Army and Aaranyak’s Greater Adjutant Conservation Programme team conducted a series of awareness campaigns encouraging people to celebrate this Diwali sustainably.” Aaranyak posted on their official Facebook handle on the eve of Diwali.

The government is also encouraging people to adopt sustainable way of celebrations by implementing various regulations for the betterment of people and environment.