This year we witnessed most of the celebrations and festivities being a low-key affair due to the pandemic. But with Diwali around the corner and especially lockdowns and restrictions eased, people are going out and shopping on a large scale. The festival of Diwali is celebrated by people of all faiths as it marks the victory of good over evil. Especially, children in homes await the day to burst firecrackers and sparklers. However, it is advised that people stay away from bursting crackers and going out to celebrate the occasion as Coronavirus cases are still on the surge. Even the Centre and State Governments have appealed the public to burst green crackers so that environmental pollution could be curbed.
2014 Hudhud havoc in Vizag
Diwali the festival of lights is known for the colourful rockets, flower pots, spinning chakras and the ear-deafening crackers that brighten up the night sky for hours together. But for the first time in Vizag’s history, when the whole nation was celebrating Diwali, Vizagites joined hands following the clarion call given by then AP CM Chandrababu Naidu to simply light diyas and refrained from bursting a single cracker in 2014.
The destruction caused by the strong tropical cyclone Hudhud was such that the ‘City of Destiny’ resembled a grave, with lakhs of trees uprooted and the city’s green cover totally blown away. The aftermath drew parallels to the devastation caused by wildfire. Hence, in a bid to curb fire-related incidents the administration alerted the citizens following CM Naidu’s call to simply celebrate the day by lighting diyas in front of the houses.
It may be recalled that CM N Chandrababu Naidu shifted his CMO to Vizag temporarily and stayed for nearly two weeks to personally monitor the rescue and relief efforts.
In these times of the pandemic, it may be recalled that people themselves need to take the initiative of bursting green crackers to curb pollution and follow all the Covid guidelines mandated by the Centre on the occasion and stay safe.
