Be it wedding or election results, why do we need to burst firecrackers on every occasion?
Enough is enough.
We burst firecrackers on Diwali, on birthdays, on weddings, and also on days when the parties we support win elections. Not even talking about the environment impact yet. But this has to be the cheapest — and most uncreative — way to express our happiness. You don't have to put much effort into it. You just create a stash of firecrackers beforehand, which might involve some trouble, only if you are in the NCR region though. For the most influential, cracker-bursting clan, this trouble can be easily surmounted.
So, the election result day started with news agencies posting photos of party workers buying firecrackers, anticipating much happiness on its way. Can it be blamed on coincidence that for the past few days, Delhi's air quality index has been hovering over a harmful 400 again?
No, it's not a coincidence, because that's how Delhi remains mostly in winter — just that we take notice of the AQI some days, and the other days, we forget.
Scientifically speaking; a dip in the temperature and calm surface wind has been blamed for this renewed phase of Delhi pollution. Politically speaking, what will add to this is the euphoria finding expression in fireworks in broad daylight.
If Delhi has to bear the brunt because all national party headquarters are here, then Rajasthan won't be far behind. The poor state was yet to recover from the celebrity wedding crackers that wreaked havoc on air and on social media!
And the situation is tricky. We don't know whom to blame. We can't pinpoint one party because bursting firecrackers has always been the political tradition of celebration.
We can't blame boisterous north Indians, because the firecrackers hub, Sivakashi, is in the south, and if our local party leaders are making some last-ditch attempts to procure firecrackers from some kirana shop, the parties in the south get them fresh from Sivakashi.
Making noise is the easiest way to draw attention. That's why we blow our horns unnecessarily, we type hard on our computer keyboards even when not necessary. With this disposition, it is quite inevitable that we would love something which (mostly) combines light and sound at its best.
But in the morning? That's a sheer dearth of creative ideas. Buying laddoos and distributing among enthusiasts involve some risk though — because the number of enthusiasts might just increase.
With crackers, you don't have to share. You just light up and share the pollution.
So, shall we blame Indians, as a whole?
But then, firecrackers are not an Indian thing — or, not only an Indian thing. The invention has been attributed to 7th century China, during the time of the Tang dynasty. The US Celebrations of the 4th of July also see considerable fireworks.
So, all is fair in love and war (elections), as long as we have China to blame.
And pollution-wise too, Delhi's air quality has beaten Beijing's on a few occasions in the last two years.
Let's celebrate.