Cuffe Parade residents encourage 'Green Diwali'

The Cuffe Parade Residents Association (CPRA) has pitched for a 'Green Diwali' this year. The association has distributed pamphlets to residents in all the 49 buildings encouraging them and their children to celebrate a Green Diwali.

"We have been getting a good response. By Green Diwali me mean that no one bursts cracker at all," said Padmakar Nandekar, secretary general of the CPRA. "Most children have been hearing in their schools that they should not be bursting crackers. So when we talk to them, it is just re-enforcing what they already learn in their schools. They understand what we are trying to convey, and are even happy to be part of it," said Hansu Pardiwala.

"Bursting crackers was never part of Hindu tradition. What was part of the Hindu tradition is lighting a diya. A diya also symbolises patience with which it burns. Bursting of crackers was a commercial activity which was started nearly 200 years ago by a matchmaking company," said Vijay Advani, a member of Cuffe Parade who welcomed the initiative.

"At the end of the day it is noise and air pollution which is harmful to us. We all should look to reducing the pollution. My children are a bit grown up and realise that bursting crackers only creates pollution. As residents we have welcomed the move and will be asking more and more people to do the same," said Kaushal Bagadia, another resident.

"From next year, we also want to encourage children in BMC schools to not burst crackers as it only creates noise and air pollution," said Pardiwala.