Burst the Crackers Myth!!!          

                                                                     

If there was a single reason, I could give myself for bursting crackers, I would definitely be engaged buying crackers for this festive season. But, I find no apparent, logical or sensible reason to burst crackers.

Why do you think people leave the city during Diwali and go away to hill stations far away from the city? Why do you think the most peak time for all hotels and home-stays is Diwali time? Do folks want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city? Why? There is Christmas, summer, tons of vacation in August-September!!! It’s Diwali! Because it is crackers!!! There are people who want to get away from the smoke! From the pollution! At least they are safer and can breathe fresher air at the hill-stations!!!  

First thing, why crackers? What pleasure does one get by burning those fire crackers, creating that sound? No, sound is a better phenomenon. Noise!

“A firecracker (cracker, noisemaker, banger, or bunger) is a small explosive device primarily designed to produce a large amount of noise, especially in the form of a loud bang; any visual effect is incidental to this goal. They have fuses, and are wrapped in a heavy paper casing to contain the explosive compound. 

That’s what Wikipedia says. And was I right in using noise instead of sound? What I ask is, “What is the point of blasting a small explosive device primarily designed to produce a large amount of noise, especially in the form of a loud bang and a visual effect that is incidental to this goal???

Okay! Of course! Blast! Bhidoom! Bham! Tham! Dham! For a week…then put up some really awful selfies on social media…and then…I can’t really tell you because I myself have not experienced it. Thank you mom and dad for not giving an exposure I never needed…

So, here are a few reasons as to why I am not going to burst crackers this Diwali and why burning crackers is totally futile and useless, according to me…all nerds who want to go on bursting crackers after reading this, please let me know! And all those who agree can sign this petition with #NoCrackers…the “N” and “C” gotta be capitalized.

1)   They are a waste of money-Fire crackers are sold a week before the Diwali festival. The vendors are sprawled all over the city. Salesmen begin selling fire crackers-they know it is going to work in their favour. They know; there are people who will buy those explosive devices…no matter if people don’t notice their shop all year round. What bugs me the most, is chemists selling crackers! I have a chemist in my vicinity who becomes a part time cracker seller during Diwali! Wow…so this guy who sells medicines that are going to remove illness and cure his customers, begins to sell pollutants…harmful chemicals that are going to cause even worse conditions! Okay, but these were chemists and vendors who are poor…struggling for their daily needs...yet I believe it is foolish!

        Nevertheless, a doctor sponsoring for fire crackers! Speaking business, doctor? Yes, we did have a doctor who sponsored for all the fire crackers of the society! Isn’t that senseless…this doc spends his entire year treating patients, pulling them back to good health and serving a purpose to the society by curing and healing. And now, he does something that is so contrary to his own ethics! But we were talking about wastage of money.

      And yes, I firmly believe it is a waste. A waste because it is pointless! It is unnecessary. I’ve seen many of my friends buy crackers worth thousands of rupees. These thousands of rupees, if put to good use can make a difference! Come on, if not for donating to the poor and needy, at least it can buy you something you dearly wanted. If one spends say five thousand a year for crackers, doesn’t it mean a lot of things that he/she could buy? Five thousand is not a small amount. But if wasted for crackers it definitely is.

          It decreases the worth of the money. Five thousand put to use for getting some plumbing or repairing done at home is better. It will definitely increase comfort and luxury for me. It will increase the value of the money spent. It will go to a man who has spent time, working hard to repair my house. It will satiate his hunger. His house won’t be dark this Diwali!

       It will also give me a feeling of satisfaction. But then I ask myself, can I get the same satisfaction bursting crackers? If not for the man, I’ll at least be contended to see a better home.

So, yes I feel it will be a better alternative for me and my family’s (they too have taken the pledge, please don’t ask which pledge?) money to be used in a good manner this Diwali instead of being wasted over those stupid explosives! Even the notes would prefer being inside the ATM or bank. It’s too smoky outside!!!

2)   It’s worthless- Absolutely! Do I see worth in wham-dham-bam??? I close my eyes. I forget there is anything called “crackers”…I forget there exists a festival…I forget the so-called beauty created by the explosives…I imagine a loud banging noise; with that rises sparkles of different colours…good, next I receive a noble prize for filling the entire world with beauty, peace, happiness and colours!!!

        Really??? Does it really mean anything...Anything more than a moment of so-called thrill and happiness? What purpose does it serve? Nothing! Is it sensible spending money on something futile?

       Would you buy soaps and shampoos if they did not help you clean yourself? Would you spend bucks and then rub it on your body for nothing? Would you buy a television that does not telecast shows and movies?

          I bet you would’ve never imagined a thing like that…you wouldn’t have even thought of a TV. without programmes’ existence? And how would it come into existence? Doesn’t each thing “being there”, existing, have a purpose to serve? A reason to come into existence???

            Those crackers did have a reason…a reason that served a purpose that many years back. It was a mode to celebrate festivals…doesn’t it have to be removed out of the cycle once its purpose is served? Doesn’t it have to stop…if it is clearly visible that its purpose is served? It’s causing harm to people? Let alone its harmful effects, it is useless! So that was the second reason…quite an important one! Because I do not use things that don’t serve me a purpose!!!

3) It causes harm- Now; I do not want to take any chances-before I go into it:

My friend hurt his forehead-a butterfly flew past it! No, not the ones in the garden-they are hardly visible during this time…if it can choke a fifty kilo person like you, think what the smoke can do to the butterfly!

So, the butterfly is this type of cracker that flies in any possible direction…no one knows where! It can get into a house through a window…it can land in the garden of the opposite building…it can punch you in your face! So this little guy was slashed on the forehead by this butterfly (who was looking for his son somewhere in the garbage can!). You won’t believe this but as you read this, that same kid is bursting a cracker-a butterfly, probably!

Every day, there shall be an article in the newspaper - someone or the else would’ve burnt his/her hand, leg, palm, face or hair while bursting a cracker! There will be many who won’t burst crackers…but even more who will continue to! They’ll say, “That boy who burnt his palm-he shouldn’t have gone too close”, “That girl, she should have been careful with fire”!!!

So, as far as I am concerned, I love myself and my family. I feel it is stupid to risk personal health for a moment of joy! There are stats that can prove it…prove that crackers, apart from causing injuries also cause lung problems….nevertheless it is release of harmful particles and gases. It is smoke.

       My younger brother, had asthma two years back. Thanks to the prayers and healing, he is fine now. He would cough, be choked, would spend sleepless nights. My mom and dad would be awake all night. I now realise how he would’ve felt…how worried we…all this owing to pollution!

        This pollution is caused by, of course, automobiles and industries; but in our city-crackers are a must…marriage, we need it! Celebrations? We need it! Diwali? Is that a question? Of course we do! But it is not just about him! It is about hundreds of those suffering due to these crackers!

          These crackers that give out gases! Harmful gases! One of my friends commented under the post (by my dad, where I got this inspiration from): We should, might as well eat Cadbury crackle! And honestly, its better-no harm and we all can eat it, can’t we?

So, while we seek for blessings from god, for prosperity, for health, for happy lives at the same time we burst crackers that spoil health of others, if not of ours! It becomes a cause of worry, pain and ill health! Then why? Why should I burn these crackers when they are causing my own brother to cough and spend sleepless nights?

Would you want to do anything that causes, if not others, your own loved ones discomfort? No! Of course not! You wouldn’t! Then why do it! I won’t and that’s my pledge! I won’t cause any discomfort, sorrow or pain! I won’t be the reason for anyone to fall sick! I won’t be the reason for someone’s injury…nor even want to become a witness to it! I won’t be the cause for someone to spend a festival coughing or being breathless...I pledge!

I pledge to not add smoke and pollution to a city already polluted beyond regular levels! I pledge to not cause anyone any sort of disease, condition or sorrow! I pledge to not burst crackers!

At the same time, we won’t let the spirit of the festival of lights die down! Our house shall be well-lit! There will be Rangolis at our doorstep! We shall seek the blessing of the Almighty! But we shall not waste our precious money on futile explosives that cause pain!!!

This Diwali there shall be Diyas, Rangolis, lights, lanterns but no crackers!

I know there are still going to be many thousands of people bursting crackers-spending crores of rupees! But all I can do is this! I’ll do all I can…

I pledge to not burst a single cracker this Diwali; from this Diwali… #NoCrackers!!!

 Wishing Everyone A Happy Diwali…Full Of Lights And Prosperity!!!

                              Burst By- Shahen Pardiwala