The campaign against firecrackers will result in erosion of cultural values, traditions and the spirit of diversity. It is high time we take pride in our festivals and protect our heritage. For centuries now, Bharat has been called a civilisational state that binds its people together with a shared consciousness, traditions and identity. In the backdrop of such an axiom, one can only guess the impact that the stoppage of traditions and festivals can have on the fabric of Indic identity. Diwali is one of the most-widely celebrated and hallowed festivals of India, the history of which can be traced back to the seventh century. One of the first mentions of the festival can be found in the Skanda Purana , which mentions the lighting and holding of ‘ ulkas ’, which roughly translated into English would mean ‘firebrands’, ‘ diyas ’ or ‘fire falling out of the sky’. This is of great significance to the interpretation of Diwali, since ulka fulfills al...
यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः