Curtailed fireworks display at Golden Temple this Diwali

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 12

Following the guidelines to curb pollution, the SGPC has decided to reduce the span of traditional display of firecrackers and also arranged special eco-friendly crackers to celebrate “Bandi Chhor Diwas” (Diwali) at the Golden Temple.

Normally, fireworks take place at four spots in the Golden Temple complex — two locations close to Ghanta Ghar and one each near Sikh Reference Library and Darshani Deodhi.

Sparing a thought for the pollution aspect, the SGPC had replaced the traditional lights by introducing hi-tech lights in 2017. However, there was no substitute to traditional fireworks that were famous worldwide. Moreover, this tradition also could not be discontinued keeping in view its association with Sikh religious occasions, be it Gurpurbs or Diwali.

Though a proposal was mooted to replace the firecracker show with a laser technique having identical effects, it could not kick off.

Earlier, this famous show lasted for 30 minutes that was reduced to half since 2017.

Golden Temple’s manager Mukhtiar Singh said the firecrackers’ show at the Golden Temple complex would only be a symbolic gesture to mark the occasion this time.

“The firecracker show will be there for 5-7 minutes only to mark the occasion. We have arranged specially designed low-decibel crackers from New Delhi. These emit negligible smoke,” he said.