Maharashtra villages spark change with no-cracker Diwali

KOLHAPUR: Many villages in the state have been celebrating Diwali without bursting firecrackers, a practice they have been following for over a decade at least. Residents in many villages refrain from bursting crackers even during marriage functions and public festivities. Borade, a village in Dhule district, Manyachiwadi village in Satara district, and Langarpeth and Padali villages in Sangli district have banned firecrackers.

Manyachiwadi in Satara district is the first “solar village” in Maharashtra. “Our village was among the first to ban firecrackers not just during Diwali but also during other festivities and private functions nearly 20 years ago. We hold other events to mark Diwali, and we ensure that the festival is celebrated without air and noise pollution. We come together and light diyas. The awareness about side effects of firecrackers has been passed down from one generation to another, owing to which we do not have to make any further effort to achieve the goal of cracker-free Diwali,” said Ravindra Mane, the sarpanch of Manyachiwadi.

Since last year, Satara Zilla Parishad has appealed to village panchayats to celebrate cracker-free Diwali. A programme based on the five elements of life — earth, water, air, fire, and sky — has been designed, and those villages that undertake such initiatives are given points. Based on the points, additional grants are provided to gram panchayats for development works.

Jaysing Pawara, a resident of Boradi village in Dhule, said, “Around 15 years ago, we passed a resolution to avoid use of firecrackers. We have enough awareness that water and air should not be polluted, and nature is sacrosanct for us. We have a fine for violators. We hold competitions and games to engage youths during Diwali.” Langarpeth grampanchayat has fixed a fine of Rs 2,000 for every violation of firecracker ban .