Just now:
SC sets aside HC order banning firecrackers in Bengal
Nod for 'environment friendly' crackers
www.telegraphindia.com
Excellent decision! That should satisfy everyone. Blanket bans are evil!Just now:
SC sets aside HC order banning firecrackers in Bengal
Nod for 'environment friendly' crackerswww.telegraphindia.com
Really???!!! And "activists"? Name calling, just because some have a different pov from yours? I'm sure you can do much better than this.All the sanctimonious activists can chill.
I have read this many years ago why Diwali is celebrated -I remember when I was little and out of the blue my late father started the practice of lighting a little bunch of crackers after we came home post midnight Mass on Christmas day. He used to encourage me to light the crackers and make some noise. I always refused because to my mind it was not fair to wake people up from sleep. I used to sulk and tell him that we will make "noise" the next morning but for some petty reason in his mind he insisted that it be done after the witching hour. I won eventually! The reason I cite this, is for you all to know that I was a bit of a di*# then too and am a bigger one now.
The reason behind celebrating Diwali changes depending which part of our wonderful country one is from. This variety is what makes our country so interesting.I have read this many years ago why Diwali is celebrated -
The demon king Ravana was slayed during Vijaydashami ( Dusherra). So Lord Rama has to return to his kingdom at Ayodhya along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. Unfortunately there were no Google maps available those days. Fortunately Ravana had an aeroplane named Pushpakvimana which Lord Rama used for travelling from Lanka to Ayodhya.
As you know Diwali is on a Newmoon day ( Amavasya). So you don't have moon light on the nights to show the path. So to light the path from SriLanka to Ayodhya for Rama to see from air Diyas were lit from the previous night itself. The arriva time of Lord Rama at Ayodhya was early morning when everyone would be asleep. So it's was easy to wake everyone up early morning with a fire cracker as they did not have an mobile phone to set their alarm clock. Lord Rama was returning to his Kingdom after 14+ years, so it was obvious that everyone wanted to see him, greet him with sweets, take bath and wear fresh and new clothes to express their happiness and gratitude towards him.
This custom is been followed for past 5000+ years. How much of this is significant for today is still a discussion topic .
YepThe reason behind celebrating Diwali changes depending which part of our wonderful country one is from. This variety is what makes our country so interesting.
Like many things in audio, each thinks theirs is the right reason.
Even MH/GJ follow the Amavasyant Calendar. Celebrations start on Dhana Trayodashi.Yep
In the south (TN, KA, AP, TE, KL) the first day is Naraka Chaturdashi.
It celebrates Krishna slaying Narakasura (supposedly an evil king who used to torment his subjects)
In parts of KA, TN, AP, TE, KL the third day is also very significant. Bali Padyami
It celebrates the short arrival of Mahabali to the earthly plane.
Story goes like this (short version):
Mahabali was a very benevolent and just king loved by his subjects. His only fault was 'ahankaar' or in english 'hubris'
Vamana (an avatar of Vishnu) taught him a lesson and pushed him to the netherworld or something.
Mahabali apparently asked for one favor. "Let me come to the earthly plane once a year to see how my subjects are doing"
On this day, Bali Padya, he apparently comes to this earthly plane during dusk for about 45 mins.
Incidently, in KL he also visits during Onam
Happy Deepavali!!
Feast with friends and family. Stay safe
Cheers,
Raghu
"Diktat" & "High Handedness" have negative connotations as we have seen.It is fine if individuals choose their volition to not buy/fire crackers. But to make it a diktat is both completely unconstitutional.
Off late the judiciary has become a seat of high handedness.
The judiciary does not pass judgement of their own accord. There is something filed before them which they have to judge and pass judgement on. They then pass a judgement on the merits of the arguments for and against. Now one can argue on the judgement and claim right or wrong but to call it unconstitutional is incorrect, in my opinion.But to make it a diktat is both completely unconstitutional.
Off late the judiciary has become a seat of high handedness.
I am delighted we have been able to discuss a variety of view points on this without name calling, insults even as we sometimes disagree with each other. A good start to Deepavali ?
I would not put this as a “either/or”Have we stopped using fuel to commute/travel which happens 24x7x365?
Have we stopped generating non-recyclable garbage?
........................there are n number of such polluting things we are forced to do daily for even our basic survival.
So why stop this 1-day fiasco?
I can understand some curbs in terms of the type of crackers that are produced, but stating pollution, is at best laughable.
I do argue with the youth of today, who claim the reason they quit was due to pollution/child labour etc.
When people cant do anything regd GW due to fuel, as many economies would collapse, then they start targeting insignificant buy symbolically high impact contributors like crackers in Diwali.I would not put this as a “either/or”
This is one of the many changes we will have to adapt to willingly or unwillingly in the coming months and years.
As you and others had pointed out earlier blanket bans are unpleasant and threaten our democratic rights.
I feel It’s much better to make well informed and wise choices and decisions rather than wait for Governments and courts to act.
I am sure many of us remember when it was normal for people to smoke indoors, on buses, trains and planes. Today knowing what we know about second hand smoke inhalation this behaviour has stopped. It did take legislation and enforcement to achieve this. Was it not good for everyone?
Actually governments have been acting on these for a while now. But keeping in mind economics and public sentiments they do it in steps or gradually.When people cant do anything regd GW due to fuel, as many economies would collapse, then they start targeting insignificant buy symbolically high impact contributors like crackers in Diwali.
Thank God, we dont have any festival related to Freons yet.
Instead of encouraging R&D, Govts take simpler way of banning. Viable alternatives happened with biodegradable polythene bags need to be invented/discovered to address the issue of pollution. till then Reuse/Refuse/Reduce is best one can do at least, on personal level.
Not for me! It gets particularly unbearable on long haul flights when the urge hits hard.I am sure many of us remember when it was normal for people to smoke indoors, on buses, trains and planes. Today knowing what we know about second hand smoke inhalation this behaviour has stopped. It did take legislation and enforcement to achieve this. Was it not good for everyone?