Q&A: 9. Lighting Crackers

தமிழில் படிக்க இங்கு செல்லவும். 

Question: Was lighting crackers for Diwali an early custom or it got introduced recently?

Answer: Lighting crackers for Diwali has been a very ancient ritual. By ancient, I imply several millennia old.  There are scriptures such as Smrithi Kosh and Karthikamaahatyam that support this fact.

Below are some verses that describe the purpose of lighting fire crackers during Diwali.

“thula hamsthe sahasraamshau pradoshe bhutha darshyo:
ulka hastha naraa: kuryu: pitroonam marga darshanam “

“yamalokam parithyajya aagatha ye mahalaye
ujjvala jyothisha varthma prapashyanthu vrajanthu the “

“In the sacred month of Thulaam (Iyppasi), on no moon day (Diwali) hold a lighted stick in your hands (sparklers). This is to guide our ancestors to go back to their world.  For they have come to our world from the Netherworlds during this period of Mahaalaya to accept our offerings and bless us. Let their sins get vanished by this Aakasha Deepa and let them attain salvation.”  Here Akasha Deepa refers to sparklers/crackers. This indicates that there is a clear mention of this ritual in our ancient scriptures thus endorsing this practice as a long-followed one.

Now some of us may think that fireworks is a recent invention by China.  The truth is otherwise. Gustav Oppert (1836-1908) in his work, Political Maxims of the Ancient Hindus, says that ancient India was the original home of gunpowder. Saltpetre which is an ingredient of fireworks was referred to as “Agnichurna“ and its usage for producing smoke  2300 years ago was documented in Kautilya Arthasastra by Chanakya. Also, Chinese texts dating back to 7th century have acknowledged that Indians were aware of saltpetre and its usage for producing purple flames which could refer to fireworks.

Apart from spiritual connections, some practical considerations also existed for fire crackers in ancient India.  In those days crackers used to have sulphur in them. According to the Colorado State University Extension, sulphur might be the oldest known pesticide in use. Sulphur is used against various fungal diseases including rusts and mildew and can be used to control mites, ticks and spiders. More importantly it is not toxic to bees, birds or fish, and has a low toxicity to humans. Usage of firecrackers as pesticides is an ingenious way of controlling pests during  cultivation.

Finally, the joy that a festival like Deepavali brings us is endless.  It is one of very few festivals today which brings all the kids together and keep them outdoors for long enough! We can see qualities like sharing, caring, team work, guidance, getting rid of fear etc., emerge when children come together to light crackers.  If not for any of the above reasons, we should continue celebrating Deepavali at least for this reason.

Of course, anything that is excessive is to be shunned upon. This is not a time to be indulging in excesses, or being a show-off or being insensitive to animals, elders and the sick. We will need to have a sense of responsibility and self-regulation to enjoy the occasion without bringing hardship to anyone around us (such as lighting high-decibel crackers). This is a time not only to celebrate, but also to contemplate.

Wishing the readers of Thedal and all others a Very Happy Deepavali!

Click below to view the earlier Q&A 

https://thedal.info/category/dharmicqa/

References:
http://guruprasad.net/posts/fireworks-part-indian-culture/
https://living.thebump.com/sulfur-good-insect-repellent-13994.html
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Let-Deepawalis-deep-return-burn-insects/articleshow/44871219.cms

***