Diwali, known as the festival of lights, is a time for celebrating the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness. Yet, as the years go by, I see more and more fireworks displays becoming a core part of Diwali celebrations here in Nairobi and around the world. Traditionally, fireworks weren’t part of Diwali, and though I’ve spoken out against them in the last couple of years, I’ve sometimes been met with harsh responses – even accused of being “racist,” which is especially ironic since I’m of Indian heritage. But my stance isn’t about rejecting culture; it’s about respecting the true spirit of Diwali and embracing compassion.
I believe that moving away from fireworks doesn’t diminish our celebrations but actually brings us closer to the heart of Diwali – and to Ahimsa, or non-violence, a key Hindu principle.
A Quick Look at History
Fireworks, while now common, were never originally part of Diwali celebrations. They’re actually a Chinese invention, created over a thousand years ago and adopted into other cultures over time. For most of our history, Diwali has been celebrated with the soft, welcoming glow of oil lamps, or diyas, and the exchange of sweets, love, and light. Today, the spectacle of loud, colourful explosions has overshadowed this gentler tradition – but at what cost?
Environmental Impact: Polluting the Air, Water, and Land
When fireworks light up the night sky, the bright colours and sparks might look beautiful, but they come with a hefty environmental toll. Fireworks release a range of pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and heavy metals like lead and copper. After a major fireworks display, the air quality takes a significant hit, with particulate matter (PM) levels skyrocketing and creating dangerous conditions for people with asthma and respiratory issues.
These pollutants also find their way into the water and soil, affecting ecosystems in ways we rarely see. The toxic chemicals from fireworks settle into rivers, lakes, and oceans, impacting aquatic life and contributing to the long-term degradation of our environment.
Mental Health and PTSD: The Hidden Harm
Fireworks aren’t just hard on the environment—they’re hard on people, too. As a mental health commentator and healer, I see this effect first-hand with my clients. For those with PTSD, particularly veterans and trauma survivors, the loud, unexpected explosions are not a source of joy but a source of genuine distress. Children and elderly individuals, too, often struggle with the intense noise, which disrupts sleep and stirs up anxiety. A single night of loud fireworks can make what should be a joyful festival feel like an ordeal for some.
A Harrowing Experience for Animals
If you have pets, you know how fireworks affect them. The loud noise causes severe anxiety, with animals often panicking or trying to escape. Wild animals, too, are affected. Birds abandon nests and sometimes fail to return, while other animals suffer shock, injuries, or even death trying to flee the noise. Our close vicinity to Karura Forest means that any animals there, including monkeys, will be adversely affected by the loud, deafening noise.
From a Hindu perspective, where respect for all life is a core value, it’s worth asking: Do these displays of sound and light align with Ahimsa, the principle of non-violence? Surely, our celebration of Diwali shouldn’t come at the expense of the creatures who share this world with us.
Ethical Concerns: The Dark Side of Fireworks Production
There’s another side of fireworks that many people are unaware of: how they’re made. Regions in India, like Tamil Nadu, are major manufacturing centres for fireworks, and reports from organizations like Human Rights Watch highlight the prevalence of child labour in this industry. Children work long hours in unsafe conditions, handling dangerous chemicals with inadequate protection. The risks are so high that explosions in these factories are not uncommon, often leading to tragic injuries and deaths.
Each firework we set off comes with an invisible price – the safety and well-being of these workers, many of them children. If we pause to consider this, it’s hard not to feel a moral responsibility to question whether these displays of light and sound are worth the human cost.
Financial Interests: The Obstacle to Change
Despite these significant concerns, financial interests continue to drive the widespread use of fireworks during Diwali in Nairobi and beyond. Many local organizations, including prominent Indian temples like the SSD temple in Nairobi, hold multi-day fireworks displays each year. These events generate substantial revenue, which makes them reluctant to reconsider or reduce their use of fireworks.
Fireworks companies, too, profit from these extravagant celebrations, creating a powerful financial incentive to maintain the status quo. Unfortunately, this leaves many organizations and individuals unwilling to take a stand for a greener, more compassionate Diwali, as the financial benefits often overshadow environmental and ethical concerns.
Government Responsibility: The Need for Regulations
Given these complex challenges, the Kenyan government has an important role to play in addressing the impacts of fireworks. While banning fireworks entirely might be a difficult step, implementing sensible regulations – such as limiting the number of days or hours fireworks can be used during celebrations – would be a practical approach. Restricting displays to certain times could help mitigate noise pollution and reduce stress on people and animals while still allowing for celebration. However, a lack of regulation currently allows fireworks to be used excessively during Diwali, and without pressure for change, the financial interests involved make reform unlikely. It’s also not in the government’s immediate interest to curtail these displays, as they receive license fees – and likely back-handers – for permitting such large-scale and prolonged events.
Embracing Ahimsa: Celebrating Diwali in the Spirit of Non-Violence
Diwali is a time of joy, light, and reflection, and we don’t need fireworks to make it meaningful. In fact, by choosing eco-friendly ways to celebrate, we can embrace the very essence of Diwali more fully. Instead of fireworks, we can turn to diyas or explore modern, environmentally friendly options like laser shows or LED displays. These choices allow us to celebrate in a way that respects not only our neighbours but also the planet, the animals, and the people who might otherwise suffer for our festivities.
For me, celebrating Diwali without fireworks isn’t a loss of culture – it’s a meaningful step forward, a way to truly honour our heritage while embracing the compassion at the heart of Hinduism. Ahimsa, or non-violence, calls us to avoid causing harm through our thoughts, words, and actions. Imagine what that might look like in practice: a Diwali that brings light to the world with peace, not pollution; with joy, not distress; and with beauty, not harm.