SGPC curtails fireworks’ duration to cut pollution on Bandi Chhod Diwas

Amritsar, 18 October, 2013(Nikhil Bhardwaj)-After conducting several trials of smokeless firecrackers and laser shows with the motive of reducing pollution around the Golden Temple, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has given its nod to continue with the practice of traditional fireworks to celebrate Bandi Chhod Diwas (Diwali) this year too.However, showing concern over the rising pollution around the Golden Temple because of the fireworks’ shows, the SGPC has decided to curtail the fireworks’ duration this year.Darbar Sahib manager Partap Singh said the step was taken to curtail pollution, which would also come as a relief to the people residing near the Golden Temple.
“Otherwise, there was a practice in the past to keep the fireworks’ show on for half an hour, which was causing huge pollution in and around the Darbar Sahib’s vicinity. Now, the fireworks’ show timing will be curtailed to 12-15 minutes at the most,” he added.

Only those crackers which would burst in the maximum possible height would be used and there would be limited thrust on using crackers the smoke of which remain in the vicinity. Asked why the entire practice of using high-altitude crackers was not being replaced with laser shows which cause zero pollution, he said SGPC had once tried a laser show at Anandpur Sahib but it didn’t attract the devotees.

“Actually, the practice of bursting high-altitude crackers has been in place since long, so it will be quite tough to bypass the traditional rituals and practices of bursting crackers,” Partap Singh said, adding that curtailing the duration of the fireworks’ show was the only solution to keep the sentiments of devotees intact.

The SGPC took the decision after it found that bursting of firecrackers for a long duration was causing harm to the miniature paintings, gold plating and blackening of the white marble at the shrine.

The SGPC, it is learnt, has been looking for an alternative to firecrackers for the past several years and had once even invited tenders from various companies to exhibit crackers which cause less pollution. However, no cracker manufacturing firm was able to come up with such firecrackers.