📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Bollywood Hungama
Religion
Is Blessing Firecracker Pollution with Religion Appropriate? Diya Mirza Raises Diwali Debate
✍️ News18 Marathi
🗓 03 Nov 2026, 08:02 AM
👁 9
News18 Marathi's 'Bade Mudde' program featured Diya Mirza questioning the practice of framing firecracker pollution as a religious ritual during Diwali.
The Marathi news channel News18 aired a segment of its current affairs show "Bade Mudde" that focused on the environmental impact of firecrackers used during Diwali. Actress and activist Diya Mirza used the platform to challenge the notion that the pollution caused by fireworks can be justified or sanctified through religious sentiment.
Mirza highlighted that the spike in air and noise pollution each year coincides with the festive celebrations, raising concerns about public health and ecological damage. She argued that invoking religious traditions should not override scientific evidence about the harmful effects of firecracker emissions.
The discussion also touched upon broader questions of how cultural practices adapt to modern environmental awareness. While some viewers supported the call for stricter regulations, others defended the tradition as an integral part of Diwali celebrations.
The program concluded without a definitive resolution, indicating that the debate over balancing religious customs with environmental responsibility is likely to continue in the run‑up to the festival.
Mirza highlighted that the spike in air and noise pollution each year coincides with the festive celebrations, raising concerns about public health and ecological damage. She argued that invoking religious traditions should not override scientific evidence about the harmful effects of firecracker emissions.
The discussion also touched upon broader questions of how cultural practices adapt to modern environmental awareness. While some viewers supported the call for stricter regulations, others defended the tradition as an integral part of Diwali celebrations.
The program concluded without a definitive resolution, indicating that the debate over balancing religious customs with environmental responsibility is likely to continue in the run‑up to the festival.