Deepavali definitely has connections to its environment. The decorations and the fireworks light up not just homes but the dirt roads and the trees above. The look of the city changes on Deepavali. It isn't quite the same city anymore. It has a brighter energy.
In my Environment and Pollution class, my professor told me that there were efforts to try and reduce the amount of fireworks during Deepavali. Groups have argued that fireworks contribute to the air pollution in Bengaluru. In addition, the noise they cause disturbs the animals that live in the city. Fireworks also produce a lot of waste. I noticed that on my walk. There were lots of bits of exploded paper on the ground. Having known all of this about the festival, I felt a lot of inner conflict leading up to Deepavali. It made me super happy to see so many kids and their parents having fun with fireworks, but at the same time there was a part of me that struggled with the environmental impacts of that fun. It's something I'm still figuring out how to come to terms with. I loved that night. But it didn't come without its consequences.
Regardless, it was a learning experience and that's the most important thing! Deepavali in Bengaluru was one to remember!
