Reader Edit: This Diwali, hand on the torch of positivity

Diwali, the festival of lights, is here. People all over India are celebrating Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile and after defeating Ravan as well. In other words, this festival is meant to celebrate the destruction of evil and negativity. So, instead of deafening others by the noise of loud crackers, why not burn the negativity all around and decorate and enlighten our inner self!  

The impact of crackers on our health as well as the environment is not unknown to us. Still, we continue to burst them for the sake of trivial pleasure. The efforts of various organisations have generated some awareness, but much more is needed to be done. Elderly people and animals are the worst affected. It’s almost impossible for sick and old people to have some tranquility. Same is the plight of students preparing for exams.

If we think a little deeper, we come across innumerable things every day that need to be finished or burnt. Both the rich and the poor can take part in this process. Let us try burning the crackers of intolerance, corruption, dubiousness, egotism, patriarchy, and many more such thongs. Apart from decorating our houses, let’s light our thoughts and mindsets, cleaning away narrow-minded ideas. Fill the colours of rangoli in everyone’s life. Gift your friends with a knowledgeable word or two. The darkness lies in our inner self which needs to be lit up. And as an icing on the cake, pay tribute to the ultimate heroes of our country. Jai Hind!

The author is in Std XI, Prabhu Dayal Public School, New Delhi.