Lighting Lamps, Not Landfills: A Green Vision for Dussehra & Diwali

 By Arpita Mishra

Introduction :- 

India’s festivals are not merely events; they are living traditions that connect people to stories, values, and shared heritage. Dussehra celebrates the victory of truth over falsehood, while Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness. Yet, in recent decades, celebrations have increasingly become loud, polluted, waste-heavy and commercially driven, shifting away from their spiritual roots.

As air quality worsens, rivers choke with chemical colors, landfills overflow with plastic decorations, and noise pollution disturbs humans and animals alike, a fundamental question arises:

Can we celebrate joyfully without harming the Earth that sustains us?

The answer is not only yes, but also deeply rooted in our own culture, where traditions historically encouraged minimalism, nature worship, and community sharing. Today, reclaiming these values is not just ecological, it is ethical, spiritual, and necessary for future generations.

1. The Sacred Meaning Behind the Festivals :- 

Dussehra teaches us to burn the Ravana within  ego, anger, greed.

But ironically, modern celebrations often add to pollution, symbolizing the very evils we were meant to defeat.

Similarly, Diwali is about inner illumination  the light of wisdom, not the explosion of firecrackers.

In many regions, ancient celebrations involved:

• Earthen lamps (diyas) rather than electric lights

• Natural colors and rangoli

• Community feasts instead of mass consumerism

• Prayer, gratitude, and togetherness

The festivals were gentle, harmonious, and attuned to nature.

2. Environmental Concerns in Current Celebrations :- 

a) Air Pollution

• Firecrackers release:

• Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10)

• Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides

• Heavy metal residues

Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Patna, Lucknow see their Air Quality Index (AQI) shift from “moderate” to “hazardous” during Diwali week.

(Indian Express environmental reports have repeatedly highlighted this seasonal spike.)

b) Water Pollution

Dussehra’s plaster-and-paint Ravana effigies and Diwali waste often end up in rivers and lakes.

c) Plastic and Non-Biodegradable Waste

Thermocol, glitter decorations, synthetic garlands, plastic gift wrappers → long-term landfill waste.

d) Noise Pollution

Crackers exceed 140+ decibels, affecting:

• Children

• Elderly

• Animals

• Newborns

• Birds

The Hindu has published stories of pets disappearing and birds falling from shock during cracker-heavy nights.

3. Constitutional & Ethical Foundations for Eco-Friendly Celebration :- 

Constitutional Principle & Significance

• Article 48A = The State must protect and improve the environment.

• Article 51A(g) = It is every citizen’s duty to protect nature.

• Article 21 = Right to life includes clean air and a healthy environment.

Therefore, celebrating sustainably is not just a lifestyle choice, it is a constitutional obligation.

4. Eco-Friendly Dussehra: Burning Evil, Not the Earth : 

Traditional Practice & Eco-Friendly Alternative

1. Synthetic Ravana effigies = Effigies made of bamboo, jute, paper, natural colors.

2. Loud firecrackers = Laser light shows or community storytelling.

3. Plastic decorations = Banana leaves, marigold garlands, recycled craft.

Practical Community Example:

In Mysuru, local artisans make Ravana idols with cow-dung clay, which after immersion becomes high-quality manure. This supports farmers and reduces pollution.

5. Eco-Friendly Diwali: Light Without Smoke :- 

What to Do Instead of Crackers

• Use oil diyas instead of LED chains (saves electricity and supports potters)

• Plant a sapling to mark the festival

• Community rangoli competitions using rice flour and flower petals

• Gift seeds, handmade crafts, terracotta jewelry

Support Local Livelihoods

• Potters

• Handloom weavers

• Tribal artists

• Farmer cooperatives

Celebrations become livelihood-positive rather than waste-positive.

6. Youth: The Torchbearers of Green Celebration : 

Today’s youth are informed, connected, and climate-sensitive. Many schools and colleges have already adopted:

• No-burst Diwali campaigns

• Clay idol-making workshops

• Plastic-free festival drives

• 
  

Social media allows them to normalize green celebration trends.

When the young change habits, the culture follows.

7. Emotional Appeal: A Future to Protect : 

Imagine: A child, five years old, coughing through Diwali night.

A sparrow falling mid-air from noise shock.

A river choked in post-Dussehra waste.

Do we want future generations to inherit: Celebration or suffering?

Festivals should heal, not harm.

Conclusion: Light That Heals, Not Hurts

Dussehra and Diwali are not just dates on the calendar 

they are reminders of who we are:

A civilization that believed:

• Nature is Sacred

• Earth is Mother

• Light is Wisdom

• Joy is Shared

By choosing eco-friendly celebrations, we do not “reduce” happiness 

we restore the purity of joy itself.

Let this year be different.

Let our festivals be:

Bright, but not blinding

Joyous, but not damaging

Sacred, not wasteful

Let us light lamps — not landfills.

References :- 

The Hindu — Editorial reports on Diwali pollution and sustainable celebration campaigns.

Indian Express — Articles on AQI spikes and community-led eco-friendly festival models.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — Air quality data, festival season analysis.

MoEFCC (Government of India) — Guidelines on firecracker regulation and environmental protection.

FAO, UNEP — Cultural sustainability and eco-living models.