Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi extended greetings on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday.
In her message, the President said: “On the auspicious occasion of Deepawali, we should resolve to enlighten our conscience and adopt good attitudes like love, compassion and social harmony. This festival is also an opportunity to help the deprived and the needy and share happiness with them. Let us take pride in the glorious culture of India by believing in goodness and take a pledge to build a healthy, prosperous and sensitive society and celebrate a pollution-free Deepawali.”
PM Modi said this Diwali was special as it was the first after the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He said many generations had waited for this, and lakhs had “sacrificed and suffered torture” for this Diwali.
Home Minister Shah also extended greetings to the people. “Heartiest greetings to all countrymen on the festival of lights, Diwali. May this festival of lights bring new energy, health and prosperity in the lives of all of you,” he posted on X.
In a video message, Majhi described Diwali as a festival of light and joy while emphasising on his government’s commitment to building a developed Odisha and taking its glory to new heights.
Amid rising concerns over the deterioration of air quality during the festival of light, the state has tightened norms and set a two-hour window to burst firecrackers. The permissible window to burst crackers is from 7 pm to 9 pm, according to the latest advisory issued by Odisha State Pollution Control Board.
Firecrackers creating noise more than 125 decibels have been banned. There is also a restriction on bursting crackers near gardens, parks, or silence zones, such as areas comprising 100 metres around hospitals, educational institutions, courts, religious places, and other areas where general public gatherings take place.
People are allowed to burst only “green firecrackers” in open areas.
Similarly, children below 10 years are prohibited from bursting sound-generating firecrackers. People have been advised to wear cotton clothes to avoid getting burnt or catching fire.
As responsible denizens, let’s celebrate the festival of lights by sticking to this advisory. Here’s a list of crackers, which you can enjoy along with your children. Let’s promise to curb air pollution this year and spread love with the colours of Rangolis and the sweetness of ‘desi’ mithai.
Phuljhari (sparklers)
Almost every family uses Phuljhari to bring light in the darkness of the evening on Diwali. It is the most popular cracker. It comes in dazzling shapes and many colours like golden, red, silver, green etc.
Chakri (ground spinner)
Chakri is a soundless cracker and a favourite among children. This circular spinning firework shoots out colouful sparks and flames. It is available in various sizes and shapes in the market.
Anar (flowerpot)
Anar or flower pots are also the most popular Diwali firecrackers. Anars are known for their sparkling display and showers of coloured sparks upwards. Various types of Anars with different colours and heights of sparks are available in the market.
Twinkling Star Crackers
It is also a safe and soundless cracker. It is easy to handle, as it is coated with paper. It is available in different lengths.crackers diwali
Kitkat Fire Crackers
They sparkle like Phuljari but with a very low sound.
Matches
Yet another noise-free cracker. Children love to light up the matches, as different colours usually generate from a single flame.
Snake Eggs
Children love to crackle this. They are a packet full of small round black tablets, which have to be set ablaze. As soon as they catch fire, they release a gooey looking, stretched, black, coil-like substance, which resembles a slithering snake.
Zig Zag
This cracker sparkles like a Ground Spinner but with music. This is also a noise-free cracker.
Pencil Crackers
This cracker sparkles in different colours, which attracts children the most. It is available in the market in different sizes.
