Let's Discuss Diwali and That Haze You Feel

Diwali has just begun, and I don't know about you, but I already wish for the lights, the food, and just that incredible feeling of everyone being together. It's a festive period, after all. But there's one element of the celebration that's been annoying me more and more each year: the post-celebration smog.

You know what I'm referring to. That dense, grey veil of smoke from all the firecrackers. It irritates your eyes, gives your throat a scratchiness, and just feels. oppressive. It makes you wonder, is that flash of noise and light worth it?

What are we actually inhaling?

I read a little bit, and it's quite enlightening. When crackers explode, they're not simply producing pretty sparkles. They're expelling a lot of tiny, horrible particles into the air. Imagine a huge cloud of microscopic dust. This dust is so small that when we inhale it, it just slips past our body's defenses and penetrates deeply into our lungs.

And what's the result? It can jam things up, make breathing a chore, and essentially puts our immune system into overdrive, working overtime to defeat these intruders. Long term, this constant fight will deplete our immunity and leave us more apt to catch whatever illness is circulating. It's kind of like having the front door open when there's a storm.

It's particularly hard on the little ones and our seniors, whose bodies aren't as able to fight it off. And for anyone who is already challenged with breathing, such as with asthma, it can be downright hazardous.​

Can we party without the smoke?

Absolutely! Being careful about keeping ourselves and our families safe doesn't require us to lock up and stay home. It just requires us to be a little more considerate about how we party.

Bring back the diyas! Remember the simple joy of lighting up little clay lamps? Let's fill our homes with their warm, gentle glow instead of smoke. Add some candles and fairy lights, and you’ve got a beautiful, peaceful vibe.​

A different type of bang? If you totally adore the concept of fireworks, perhaps research "green crackers." They're not ideal, but they are designed to be a little friendlier to the atmosphere. Just be aware that they still make some air pollution.

Make your house a sanctuary. It's a good idea just to keep the windows and doors closed when the crackers are truly exploding outside. If you have an air purifier, now's the time to let it work its magic.

Small things that work. Staying hydrated is a good way to get rid of any rubbish your body might have. I've also read that Vitamin C-rich foods, or a sprinkle of turmeric or ginger on your food, can boost your lungs and immune system a little bit.

Cover up if you must venture out. If you are venturing out into the thick of things, it's a good idea to pick up an N95 mask. It filters out the yucky stuff much more effectively than a plain cloth one.

This Diwali, let's attempt to make it about the light and not the smog. Let's make it about togetherness and not coughing. What if we all chose to have a celebration that makes us feel good and our lungs? Just thinking.

Let's celebrate the festival in a way that allows us all to breathe a little better. Happy Diwali