After Rajasthan, Odhisha now bans cracker during Diwali for safety of COVID patients

Nov. 4: After Rajasthan, it’s now Odhisha which has banned firecrackers during the Diwali festival. Considering the potentially harmful consequences of burning firecrackers amid the Covid-19 pandemic situation and approaching winters, the Government of Odisha has banned the sale and use of firecrackers across the state from November 10 to 30 in the public interest.

Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said, “Anyone found violating the government orders banning the sale and use of fire crackers will be punished as per the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and other relevant laws.”

The West Bengal government on Tuesday appealed to people to avoid bursting firecrackers during the upcoming Kali Puja and Diwali festivals in order to check air pollution which is hazardous for COVID-19 patients. “With everybody’s cooperation, we want to hold the Kali Puja and Diwali festivals avoiding firecrackers. The administration appeals to people to avoid firecrackers,” Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said.

So it seems that Deepavali, the festival of lights may be celebrated in the traditional way by lighting of earthen lamps, candles and other traditional lighting materials.