SOCIETY

School children in Amritsar say, No to
crackers ahead of Diwali
by Ravinder Singh Robin

     Amritsar: Hundreds of schoolchildren took out a march here on Thursday to spread general awareness and appeal children to not burn fireworks to celebrate the upcoming Diwali festival. Participating in the march, the children carried placards reading messages like " Say, no to crackers". Students appealed all children not to waste their parents' hard-earned money on fire-crackers. The gesture was also aimed at preventing air and noise pollution through public awareness. The participants in the march said the fireworks also cause harmful effects on everyone's health with their poisonous gases. "We appeal to all to light earthen lamps of electrical lights to celebrate the auspicious festival which is marked to celebrate the return of Lord Rama from 14-year exile on the occasion of Kartik Amavasaya as per Hindu almanac," said Rythem, one of the students. "We have been conducting this awareness drive for the last six years. We appeal to all people to join us in our sincere pursuit to ask people to stay away from burning crackers and celebrate distinctly with lights," said Anitha Bhala, school principal. Besides, the school children also took a pledge to not burst fireworks on the upcoming Diwali festival. Kirti one of the students said that she pledged not to celebrate the festival with fire crackers.
-Oct 23, 2008    

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