Sadhguru takes on Twitter asks citizens not to prevent kids from burning firecrackers

New Delhi, Nov 03: As the debate on ban on fire-crackers hots up in the country, Isha Foundation founder and spiritualist Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on Wednesday opposed the blanket ban on fire-crackers and offered a simple alternative.

"Concern about air pollution is not a justification to prevent kids from experiencing the joy of firecrackers," he said in a message on the eve of the festival.

Extending greetings to everyone for Deepavali, he said, "Lighting up in joy, love, and consciousness is vital in times of crisis that could dump you in darkness." "This Deepavali, light up your humanity to its full glory. Love and blessings," he said.

When asked about those who support the country's firecracker ban, Sadhguru said,"I have not lit a cracker in quite a few years. But when I was a child how much it meant, from the month of September we will be dreaming crackers. And after Diwali is over, next one-two months, we will save the crackers and keep on doing it everyday. Let not people who are suddenly environmentally active say "No child should have crackers".Make a three-day trek to work as a sacrifice for them. Allow children to enjoy the excitement of cracking crackers."

On Monday, the Supreme Court set aside the Calcutta High Court order banning firecrackers during Kali Puja, Diwali and other festivals this year to check air pollution amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

A special bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi also asked the West Bengal government to explore the possibility to ensure that banned firecrackers and related items are not imported in the state at the entry point itself.

The bench, which assembled during the Diwali break to hear the matter, was hearing the pleas against the October 29 order of the high court banning the sale, use and purchase of all types of firecrackers in the state.

"The state should ensure that there is no use or display or bursting of firecrackers of any type at all during Kali Puja, Diwali celebrations as well as Chhath Puja, Jagadhatri Puja, Guru Nanak's birthday and Christmas and New Year's eve celebrations this year," the high court had said. It had said that only wax or oil-based diyas may be used for the occasions.