Firecrackers During Diwali: An Absolute Nuisance

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 23 October 2025 Can Indians imagine Diwali sans firecrackers and noise? While noise is integral to an average Indian's life because not only during all occasions, noise is everywhere whether or not there's an excuse for it. But what about firecrackers? Diwali means firecrackers and now the neo-Hindus are bursting crackers even during Ganeshotsav and other occasions. Bursting of fireworks not only causes air pollution but also noise pollution. Also because of the happiest festival, many people use loudspeakers, loud musical instruments and advertisements that cause noise pollution. The noise level can go beyond 125 dB which is as loud as Military jet aircraft take-off, whereas the government limits Noise level at 55 dB in daytime and 45 dB at night for residential areas. These types of noises are very harmful for new-born babies and senior citizens. Why do people burst firecrackers? An Urdu humorous poet wrote a couple of years ago, "Ghar Se Nikla Tha Patakhe Khareedne/Har Soo 'Patakhe' Dekh Kar Irada Badal Diya" (I went out to buy firecrackers but seeing 'Patakhas' everywhere, I returned home). It's worthwhile to note that in the north Indian lingo, a 'Patakha' is a luscious female with an element of raunchiness. It's worthwhile to mention that 'Patakha' for a woman is a mild slang, though some women take it as a compliment! All joking aside, in these five days fireworks are handled by kids and due to their poisonous nature many children fall ill. Poisonous gases may cause fever, skin irritation, vomiting, effects of fireworks on lungs, insomnia, heart, asthma and bronchitis. Many children also face accidents due to mishandling of fireworks and it causes burning, cutting. It has also been observed that mortality and morbidity rate increased in the Diwali period because of SPM, RSPM and other harmful gases released into the environment. Agreed, gunpowder (Baarood) was invented in China but it was Babar who introduced it to the subcontinent and crackers during the Shab-e-Charaghaan (Diwali) came into being. Now when everything even remotely related to the Mughals is despised and frowned upon, can't the devout neo-Hindus do away with firecrackers because crackers contain Baarood? But they won't. Because our priorities are selective as well as opportunistic: English is expendable, but cricket remains a national love affair, nay, a national religion. Mughals are detestable but their gunpowder is frequently used to pollute the air and cause sleepless nights to those who've nothing to do with Diwali and its orgiastic revelry. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/firecrackers-diwali-nuisance/d/137354 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism