Tamil Nadu: Koonthankulam celebrates cracker-free Diwali

While it is known that firecrackers are widely used across the country to celebrate the festival of lights, Koonthankulam village in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu is unique in celebrating Diwali without bursting crackers. The practice was voluntarily adopted by the inhabitants of this village from 1994 so that the migratory birds which frequent the village might not feel threatened. It is also noteworthy that the villagers completely avoid the use of crackers even during the celebrations of temple festivals as well as household functions like marriages.

45+ species of birds from other countries come to Koonthankulam

Ornithologists have observed that more than 45 species of birds from countries as far away as Siberia and Australia come to Koonthankulam for breeding purposes. The birds usually come in December and start return journeys during the period from August to October. The Kovai based Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology has been conducting studies on the migratory pattern of birds using Koonthankulam as a base centre.

Sivakasi rolls out green crackers for Diwali

This Diwali will see green crackers taking centre-stage with the country's fireworks hub in Tamil Nadu rolling out the eco-friendly varieties which have reduced emission of harmful chemicals and low sound in line with the Supreme Court order. After a gloomy 2018 in the wake of the Apex court banning the conventional crackers on pollution grounds, the industry which provides a livelihood to eight lakh people in and around this arid town, over 550 km from Chennai, is hopeful of meeting the demand for green crackers in the coming season.

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Prakash Javadekar on green firecrackers

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar had also appealed people to use green firecrackers during Diwali.
Javadekar, while launching the eco-friendly green firecrackers, had informed that a green logo as well as a Quick Response (QR) coding system has been developed to differentiate the green crackers from conventional crackers. Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. The festival is also celebrated with great cheer by Indians living in other countries across the world.

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