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These city youths took fire off the crackers on their own

X-Gen opens their heart, tells emotional tales about how noise affects birds and animals

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A girl lighting her lamp on the eve of Diwali in Ahmedabad on Wednesday
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Long before the Supreme Court banned firecrackers in NCR and New Delhi, a few youth in the city have been keeping the spirit alive for a long time to bring about a great social change. They have been fighting the evil of noise pollution very silently. DNA reaches out to some of them who have inspired others to celebrate the festival of lights without too much noise

Rishabh Barot, 23 years
Not bursting crackers since Class VIII

It is said that King Ashoka gave up war following the destruction in Kalinga. Rishabh says he quit bursting crackers after a tragedy shattered him. “ I was only in Class VIII when we were bursting crackers one day in an open ground. A rocket, which one my friends launched, landed in a tree and burned a pigeon’s nest. A baby pigeon fell and died. I felt guilty. I thought it was me who killed the little bird. Since then, I have never touched firecrackers,” said Barot. Someone’s celebration should never be a cause of another person’s harassment. “I don’t think it’s fair that animals should suffer because we are celebrating,” said Barot. The loud noise is very harmful to animals, especially birds. “Now, even most my friends have stopped bursting crackers.”

Vrushang Patel, 22 years
Not bursting crackers since last five years

Vrushang Patel decided to give up bursting firecrackers when he turned 18.  “While I was in school, I used to try and rescue birds whenever I found them suffering. Birds slip into shock because of loud noise, “says Vrushang, who has been crazy about crackers till he strongly took the resolution. The loud noise of the crackers creates a lot of disturbance in the surrounding air. I have even found birds being hurt by crackers. That’s painful,” said Patel.  Now, Vrushank tells people how dangerous the crackers could be. Our festivals might cast doom for them. “Also, look at the pollution it creates. It causes problems even for humans,” says Patel. He believes the ban by the Supreme Court is in the right direction.

Rutuja Kavade, 17 years
Not bursting crackers since class VII

Rutuja Kavade says she loved bursting crackers when she was a child. “It was very childish,” says Kavade. Now, I have given up owing to pollution. The impact on animals and birds is worse. “I am a person who does not like much noise. Bursting of firecrackers adds to noise pollution. It also causes a lot of trouble for the old people,” says Kavade. The rise in overall pollution meant she also found it difficult to breathe. “The air will be much better without firecracker fumes,” she said.

Kavade says she does not try to convince others to follow her footsteps. “I work with animals and know how the bursting of firecrackers tortures them. But, I also know that people are crazy about Diwali celebration.”

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