ITALS + Youth against crackers + Pic + Vox

Kolkata: If a few hundred citizens indulge in fireworks revelry on Diwali night, leaving the city covered with a blanket of toxic smoke, elderly citizens suffer, COPD patients experience an exacerbation of breathing distress, and street dogs, cats, and birds run terrified, sometimes even dropping dead. However, there are a few thousand citizens who shun fireworks completely. They are led by Generation Alpha, who are fighting a resolute battle against the noise demon, pollution and climate change."We meet students every year, and their response to our call to abstain from fireworks gives me the conviction that everything is not over. This year, chief minister Mamata Banerjee gave a clarion call for refraining from causing air pollution and distress to others. I hope to have a much quieter Diwali this year," said WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra.A fifth-grade student of DPS Newtown, Rishan Islam Mondal, said, "An anti-cracker march was held in school, which inspired me to visit the neighbourhood with my friends, requesting our elders to refrain from bursting crackers and to be conscious about our environment. I also requested them to keep heart patients and senior members of the family safe and protect their pets from being exposed to noise and smoke. I'm also following the same thing."Another student of the same school, Spriha Basu, said, "I am celebrating a green Diwali this year, choosing not to light fireworks at all, and have inspired all my friends and neighbours to refrain from bursting crackers. We are having a smoke-free Diwali where every living creature can enjoy the spirit of festivity.""For years, we have been running a campaign to add colours and light with LEDs. As bicycle activists, we deck up the wheels of our cycles with them. As the wheels move, they create a spectacular sight. The fireworks might create momentary joy with the light and noise. But our silent procession of LED wheels creates magic, and people wait to see us cycling through the city," said Raghu Jana of Cycle Samaj.Sarthak Singh, a class XII student of St Augustine's Day School, Shyamnagar, said, "A few years ago, we used to burst noisy crackers. But now I realise that the short period of celebration has an adverse impact that stays for long. So this time, we will celebrate Diwali by lighting up candles and refraining from buying firecrackers."A class IX student of the same school, Aadi Karmakar, said, "We have bought candles and light chains to decorate our home. I did not ask my parents to buy firecrackers as my school teachers guided us not to burst harmful crackers that pollute our environment."Jadavpur Vidyapith class IX student Debosmita Das said, "I haven't lit fireworks for the last seven years as I have asthma. And I can feel for those who have the same health ailment, as well as the animals who are the worst victims of a noisy and smoky Diwali."The explosion of fireworks releases pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which severely degrade air quality and contribute to air pollution. This not only poses serious health risks — causing respiratory issues and allergies — but also negatively impacts wildlife and ecosystems. "It's time to take responsibility for our actions, stop polluting the planet and protect the living beings and ecosystems we share it with. We urge everyone to celebrate a smoke-free Diwali," said green activist Somini Sen Dua, founder and director of the Mrittika Earthy Talks Foundation. Sen Dua, who also leads the WICCI Climate Action Chapter in Bengal, created a series of social media reels highlighting the harmful effects of fireworks on the climate and biodiversity.