The Bengaluru Blueprint for a Joyful & Judicious Deepawali

A #HappySafeKindDiwali

Overall Approach: "The Bengaluru Blueprint for a Joyful & Judicious Deepawali"

This initiative will be a multi-pronged, 360-degree Deepawali campaign running from now until October 22, 2025. The core philosophy is to enable celebration while ensuring responsibility, shifting the narrative from "don'ts" to "do's" and fostering a spirit of community and healthy competition.

1. Governance & Enforcement (The Backbone):

· High-Level Task Force: Immediate formation of a task force with members from the Bangalore Urban District Administration, Police Department (BBMP Commissioner, City Police Commissioner), Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), and Fire & Emergency Services.

· Clarify & Disseminate SC Orders: Issue a clear, simplified advisory reiterating the Supreme Court's 2018 orders: permitted hours (e.g., 8-10 PM only), ban on non-green crackers, and silence zones around hospitals, schools, and elderly care homes.

· Accountability & Incentives:

· Implement the "Quiet & Beautiful Ward" competition with awards and public recognition for wards with the least noise pollution complaints and the most innovative, traditional (light-based) decorations.

· Institute an "Inter-Municipal Cooperation Prize" for the best-performing zone within the Greater Bangalore Area (GBA).

· Establish a transparent system for reporting violations via dedicated helplines, a mobile app, and designated police control rooms.

2. Community & Celebration (The Heart):

· The #DiwaliCountdown Initiative: A daily social media and press campaign highlighting a positive, traditional aspect of Deepawali preparation (see draft note below).

· Promote Community Celebrations: Actively encourage and facilitate registered, collective firecracker displays in large, open grounds (like stadiums) managed by RWAs or community groups. This contains pollution, reduces individual cost, and becomes a shared spectacle.

· Amplify Voices of Impact:

· Pourakarmikas: Feature their stories and the immense challenge of cleaning the post-Diwali mess. This builds public empathy and respect for their work.

· Medical Professionals: ER doctors, pulmonologists, and ophthalmologists should hold press briefings sharing data from previous years and warnings about the health impact of noise and air pollution.

3. Awareness & Advocacy (The Voice):

· Leverage the Petition: The provided Change.org petition will be the central hub for citizens to show support and understand the issue's depth. All communications will link to it.

· Unified Messaging: All government departments, from the Ministry of Environment to the BBMP, will echo the same message through their channels.

· Positioning: Consistently frame this as a effort to make Bengaluru a model "safe, beautiful, and responsible" metropolis that celebrates its festivals without compromising the well-being of its most vulnerable citizens and its environment.

---

Draft Countdown Note to the Press, Government, and Citizens

Subject: Countdown to a Joyful, Safe, and Sustainable Deepawali 2025: A Unified Call to Action for Bengaluru

Date: [Date of Release]

For Immediate Release

Bengaluru, India – With the glorious festival of Deepawali approaching on October 20-22, 2025, the air is filling with anticipation. It is a time for renewal, gratitude, and celebrating the victory of light over darkness with our families, traditions, and communities.

However, for the elderly, the infirm, infants, pets, and our environment, the festival is often marred by the severe air and noise pollution caused by the indiscriminate use of firecrackers. This occurs despite the clear and compassionate orders of the Honorable Supreme Court of India (October 2018), which permit only green crackers within limited time frames and prohibit bursting near sensitive zones.

This year, we propose a different path. We launch a collective countdown to a Deepawali that is both utterly beautiful and profoundly responsible.

Our "Bengaluru Blueprint" rests on three pillars:

1. Clarity & Enforcement: A strict reiteration and implementation of SC guidelines by our administration and police force.

2. Community & Celebration: A shift in focus towards Deepawali's beautiful traditions and community-led celebrations.

3. Compassion & Care: Acknowledging the impact on public health, sanitation workers, and animals.

The #DiwaliCountdown: Rediscovering Tradition

Each day from now until Deepawali, we invite you to join us in celebrating the true spirit of the festival. Let's share our joy online using #DiwaliCountdown.

· Day 10: Cleaning and renovating our homes.

· Day 9: Shopping for new clothes and gifts for loved ones.

· Day 8: Buying new utensils (a traditional symbol of prosperity).

· Day 7: Being kind and giving to the less fortunate in our community.

· Day 6: Preparing sweets and savories (sugar-free options included!).

· Day 5: Decorating our entrances with beautiful rangoli.

· Day 4: Lighting up our homes with diyas, candles, and flowers.

· Day 3: Spending quality time with family and friends.

· Day 2: Expressing gratitude and offering prayers.

· Day 1: The Festival of Lights – Celebrate with light, not noise.

A Call for Collective Action:

· To the Government & BBMP: We urge strong political will and inter-departmental coordination. We applaud initiatives like the proposed "Quiet & Beautiful Ward" award and encourage innovative rewards for compliance.

· To the Press: We seek your partnership in amplifying this message of joyful responsibility and sharing the #DiwaliCountdown.

· To Citizens: We encourage you to embrace these traditions, consider community firework displays in open grounds, and be mindful of your neighbours. Please read and support our petition to understand the full scope of this issue: https://www.change.org/p/ministry-of-environment-forests-and-climate-change-strictimplementation-of-supremecourt-festive-firecracker-orders-myrighttobreathe-2ff999b8-4545-43ca-b561-4621a3b32e3d

Let us come together to ensure that the festival of lights is peaceful for every being in our city. Let's make Bengaluru a model for how a great city celebrates its festivals with joy, tradition, and responsibility.

Together, let's light a lamp, not a cracker.

#MyRightToBreathe #GreenDiwali #HappyDiwali2025 #DiwaliCountdown

**

Citizens for Sustainable Festivals

In collaboration with concerned citizens, RWAs, and environmental groups of Bengaluru

**