Let’s celebrate noiseless Eid

While the Eid-ul-Adha is all set to be celebrated across Jammu and Kashmir, there is a time to celebrate the auspicious occasion with utmost austerity. The parents have to play a huge responsibility to ensure that their children don’t use firecrackers to crackers rather enjoy the real way of life. The air in Kashmir is filled with a sense of joy, gratitude, and festivity. It is a time for togetherness, reflection and sharing happiness with family, friends and neighbours. However, in recent years, a troubling trend has crept into our celebrations: the widespread use of firecrackers by children and youth during Eid. While the intention may be to express excitement, the use of firecrackers is proving to be not only harmful but deeply inconsiderate—both to the environment and to those among us who are most vulnerable. Kashmir, like many other parts of the country, is home to thousands of patients battling respiratory illnesses, heart conditions and mental health challenges. For these individuals, the sudden explosions of loud firecrackers are not festive—they are terrifying and dangerous. Children with asthma, elderly people with heart ailments, and patients recovering in hospitals or at home face acute distress from the noise and pollution. For some, a moment of celebration elsewhere becomes a night of suffering and fear. Beyond the immediate health impacts, the environmental cost of firecrackers is undeniable. At a time when Kashmir’s pristine beauty is already under threat from pollution and climate change, adding toxins and particulate matter to the air is irresponsible. Firecrackers release harmful chemicals that degrade air quality, contribute to noise pollution, and litter our streets and water bodies with toxic waste. This year, let us encourage our children and youth to celebrate in more meaningful, responsible ways. Lighting lamps, decorating homes, giving to those in need, spending time with family, and sharing sweets and laughter—these are the traditions worth preserving. Parents, teachers, religious leaders, and community elders have a crucial role to play in guiding the next generation toward more conscious choices.