Symbolic fireworks at Golden Temple on Diwali

Amritsar, November 2

To prevent adding pollution to the environment, the SGPC has decided to curtail the traditional display of firecrackers and also arranged special eco-friendly crackers to celebrate ‘Bandi Chhor Diwas’ (Diwali) at the Golden Temple. The excessive pollution also caused damage to the gold-plated sheen of the shrine.

The fireworks take place at four spots in the Golden Temple complex — two locations close to Ghanta Ghar and one each near the Sikh Reference Library and Darshani Deodhi. Since 2017, the span of firecrackers’ display has also been reduced from 30 minutes to 15-20 minutes.

SGPC’s chief secretary (honorary) Harjinder Singh Dhami said the firecrackers’ show at the Golden Temple complex would only be a symbolic gesture to mark the occasion. “The firecracker display will be there for maximum 10 minutes. We have arranged specially designed low-decibel crackers. These emit negligible smoke. The other high-rise crackers too cause negligible pollution and emit colourful lights with less smoke,” he said. — TNS