Diwali 2023: Mumbaikars switch to eco-friendly, made-in-India lanterns

Representational Pic/File/iStock

Diwali 2023: This festive season, eco-friendly and made-in-India products seem to be all the rage this Diwali, as discerning Mumbaikars are thronging some of the city's famous markets with a checklist of festive essentials that are not harmful to the environment, the PTI reported on Friday.

According to the news agency, from candles to diyas, and colourful rangolis to a wide range of lanterns, the market is flooded with all sorts of Diwali paraphernalia and this time, the emphasis is on India-made products.

The Kandil Gali, a lane in the western suburb of Mahim known for its lantern shops, comes alive in the run-up to the festival of lights.

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The Kandil Gali is lined with shops selling a wide range of lanterns of different shapes, sizes, colours and styles makes for a breathtaking image during the festival, as per the PTI.

According to shopkeepers, this year, however, lanterns made of cloth, paper and cardboard are in high demand.

"We sell a wide range of lanterns, made of paper and cloth, as that is what customers want. There is more awareness about the ill effects of plastic and thermocol on the environment so people are going in for eco-friendly lanterns," says Vaibhav, a shopkeeper at lantern lane, the PTI reported.

People are also keen on investing in made-in-India products and local creations, shopkeepers say.

"Customers want to purchase locally-made items and are not interested in China-made products," says Swati, another shopkeeper at the lane.

The trend of eco-friendly and India-made lanterns shows that people are going about their purchases with an increased awareness about the environment.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police is all set to crack the whip on those who burst crackers outside the three-hour window established by the Bombay High Court to curb air pollution during Diwali. Cops will patrol the streets and warn violators. And if their words fall on deaf ears, offences will be registered. However, several policemen told mid-day it's virtually impossible to stop the bursting of crackers within housing societies and complexes. The policemen, however, said they will ensure that open spaces where crackers are commonly burst, won't see such activities.

Mumbai experienced a decline in its air quality on Monday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 193, approaching the ‘poor' category. Based on data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), out of 23 monitoring stations, 12 reported AQI levels ranging between 200 and 300, indicating poor air quality. The most severe AQI was recorded at Deonar, at 278; followed by Mulund, at 273; Chembur, at 247; and Kandivali East and Bandra Kurla Complex, where the AQI was almost 240.

(with PTI inputs)