Oct 10, 2013: It's that time of year again, folks!
It's always a special day for all South Asians worldwide to be celebrating their heritage and culture during this festive season of Diwali. The greatest holiday that stands between Thanksgiving and Christmas is the Diwali.
On this day, it's important for us to come together with family and friends to honour this season of celebration through laughter and joy. This year, the amazing holiday will be celebrated by me by being green, doing something for Diwali, and spreading the message to others about how I'm contributing.
I understand that Diwali is most popularly known as the "festival of lights" but that doesn't necessarily mean that people need to harm nature. Lighting fireworks is a popular way of celebrating Diwali and it has become a recent fad but it's not essential for everyone to participate in because it's a source of pollution. It is known as the "festival of lights" to get light from a natural source such as diyas (clay lamps) to put around the house. This allows for the natural light to scare off any unnatural "dark" spirits that might be lurking around the household. Diyas are the most fundamental and beneficial way of getting natural light whereas fireworks aren't. All fireworks mostly do is create pollution and contribute to the growing problem of Earth's climate change through global warming.
This year, I have thought as well as pledged to myself that I will be planting trees to help Mother Nature by giving her something back instead of harming her. A great way of participating in Diwali is to have your house decorated and designed in order to welcome the festive season. Some alternatives to fireworks would be diyas, candles, flower decoration, and string lights. This might change the look of your surroundings a little but at the same time it will help remove darkness making the home beautiful and fragrant. So be different this festive season by being creative in order to bring happiness.
All of this can only be taken that much further unless someone besides me takes the initiative of spreading the message of going green this Sunday, November the third.
I highly encourage you to take this initiative of going out on social media by promoting this cause. People's concerns will be voiced and many people would receive prosperous wishes in a CO2-free atmosphere.
All in all, have a merry and happy Diwali!
[ Click here to read about Harnoor being awarded the International Diana Award - Ed.]