Celebrating Deepawali sustainably

Let's promote degradable items and replace fancy lights with indigenous lamps.

Among all festivals, Tihar is the most adorable one for many of us, including myself. Deepawali, which means "row of lamps" in Sanskrit, symbolises "victory of light over darkness". Goddess Laxmi is worshipped on the third day in the middle of the series of ceremonies to ensure good wealth throughout the year. It is believed that cleaning, lighting and decorating houses on this particular day is essential for a splendid entrance of Goddess Laxmi into the household. Indeed, Deepawali is called the festival of lights. But over the years, the way people celebrate this festival has changed. People's dependence on artificial ways of illuminating buildings has been increasing every year. I remember many cherished moments of lighting the house during childhood. I always find it mesmerising the way people made batti from cotton and used oil in diyo and paala for the lighting.