Potential Dangers-Why You Need to be Careful Around Diwali

Diwali is known as the ‘festival of lights’. It is an annual celebration that is a part of the lives of millions of Hindus all around the world. It is celebrated with great fanfare and it is known as a time where everyone can get together and enjoy themselves. In India it is an especially joyful occasion and a real experience for anyone who takes part. Truly this is one of the most heart-warming and good natured festivals in the world.

 

For many people, Diwali is a time for expressing your love for your friends and family and showing them how much you care about them by exchanging gifts and sweets, or by travelling a long way to visit them, perhaps after a lengthy absence. So given that this is clearly an occasion that is swept up in happiness and good will, why could it also be considered a time that is slightly hazardous to your health?

 

Well, the truth is that there are actually a number of health concerns thanks to the general practices of people around the Diwali period. This is because there are many traditions and customs that happen which, if are not done with the correct thoughts and precautions, can lead to very serious problems. The fact that there are lots of fireworks used, plus the addition of noise pollution and air pollution can lead to a less-than-healthy combination.

 

The fact that it is the festival of lights means that many people like to use fireworks and firecrackers as part of the celebration. This is supposed to signify the victory of good over evil, and as such it can lead to people really enjoying themselves. However, this can mean that they don’t pay too much attention to the realm of health and safety, and unfortunately this can lead to a moderately dangerous environment in which people can easily get hurt. It’s important to remember that fireworks can be very dangerous pieces of equipment, especially in the hands of people who don’t appreciate the damage they can cause.

 

When fireworks are ignited they let out a number of chemicals which are used to create the impressive sounds and sights that we associate with them. Unfortunately, while the fire and heat is one danger that we might all know about, sometimes we may not think about the chemicals. These chemicals can certainly be hazardous to your health and you should try not to breathe any in. So remember to exercise caution around fireworks, and especially firecrackers which let off a potent mixture of chemicals in order to achieve their impressive display.

 

Another problem that is associated with Diwali is the issue of sound pollution. We might not think of the occasional bang of a firework as a major problem – and it is not, but the actual issue arises from the constant barrage of sound that comes your way. Diwali is deliberately loud and noisy, and while this leads to a great atmosphere, it’s not the best for your ear drums. Be sure to take a break from the loud noises every once in a while, because it really is not such a good thing for you.

 

Fireworks can be naturally very dangerous if you put them in the wrong hands. Part of the problem is undoubtedly that children are sometimes given unfettered access to fireworks that they may not appreciate the dangers of. If you are going to give fireworks to children, be very sure to educate them in their dangers and how to use them properly, otherwise it is simply an accident waiting to happen.

Categories: Diwali, fireworks, health, nbsp, noise pollution, people

Highlighting the Good And the Bad Of Diwali

Diwali is a big celebration for Hindus. There is a lot of fun to be had at the festival and a great feeling of happiness and joyfulness in the community. Everyone gets involved with festive and bright clothing, handing out tasty sweets and treats and the use of fireworks and firecrackers as the ultimate celebration of the festival of lights. This festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, so it is no surprise that people want to party and enjoy themselves. However, it is also a good idea to remember that Diwali can present some hazards during the celebration. The excessive use of fire is obviously going to be something of a health and safety nightmare, and there are many other issues as well that people might not think about.

 

Firstly, take the sweets that are gleefully handed out for people to enjoy. They taste great and they can really bring friends and families together as they are able to have fun and eat sweets together. The problem is that the sweets are clearly loaded with sugar and calories and that is never a good thing for your overall health. However, there are some great ideas that you can use to minimise the damage from eating sweets on Diwali.

 

You should avoid any sweets that are made using sugar syrup. Not only are these likely to be very bad for you in terms of the high level of calories and fat, it is also true that sugar syrup does not even contain the nutrients of eating sweets that are made from natural sugars. The sweets are also likely to be made with ghee and other butter products, meaning their levels of fat are very high. So if you are going to eat sweets during Diwali, it is probably worth cutting back on the other meals that you eat to ensure that you remain healthy over this period. It’s no good kidding yourself that it is OK to indulge excessively – this has been shown to be very bad for your health and can promote dangerous illnesses such as diabetes.

 

Eat your sweets in moderation and you’ll be in a good place to avoid any health complications that can arise from them. It is also worth always buying your sweets from reputable shops and stores that are more likely to follow good practice in terms of creating their sweets. There is the health concern that sweets that are creating in poor conditions (such as those sold cheaply in less reputable shops) are more likely to put you in danger.

 

Another huge health and safety around Diwali is the use of fireworks. Specifically there is propensity to use firecrackers as a major part of the celebration. They provide an awe-inspiring display and can truly bring some joy into your life. But there are actually a number of worrying considerations about the firecrackers that it is worth thinking about before simply using them blindly.

 

The excessive smoke that firecrackers create can be a massive problem for people who suffer with asthma. If you have asthma make sure that you bring your inhaler with you to any Diwali celebrations or you can really be putting yourself in danger. Unsurprisingly, one of the major concerns with firecrackers is that they can cause problems with burns and painful injuries – after all they are very hot. Take all the sensible precautions with firecrackers such as being very careful with children who want to like them and treating them as the dangerous things that they truly are. This is the best way to safe around Diwali.

Categories: Diwali, eat sweets, eating sweets, firecrackers, fireworks, health, nbsp, reputable shops, sugar syrup, sweets

How to Enjoy Diwali Celebrations While Keeping Healthy

When Diwali arrives, the Indian populace around the world take the opportunity to revel in the delight that the festival offers to their senses and their soul. There are so many elements to enjoy – the fantastic array of festival clothes, the amazing array of delicious sweets and the colourful cacophony of fireworks in the night sky. Diwali lights up the cultural, social and religious calendars of most of the Indian community. It’s worth being aware, however, that not every element of Diwali is good for your wellness and wellbeing. Being aware of the health hazards hidden in the midst of the festivities will help you to make informed choices and enjoy the celebrations in a healthy way.

 

Counting calories, for example, becomes a bit of a challenge when you are in the thick of things, but they can really add up and pose a serious threat to your health. Ghee, oil and sweet temptations such as milk halwas, jilebis and laddus all contribute to a wonderful festival, and trying to avoid all of these things and stick to the diet would really take away part of the fun for many. It is worth remembering, however, that many Indians are ethnically prone to diabetes, so really do need to be carefully about the amount of sugar and starch that they consume. That doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on the delicious foods – but try to only have a taste of the sweetest foods, or balance a celebratory meal by having a very light diet for the rest of the day.

 

Fireworks is another area where you need to be careful. The Supreme Court of India has enforced a limit of 125 decibels to avoid noise pollution, and has also made it an offence to set off fire crackers in silent zones (such as within 100 metres of a hospital, school, court or religious institution). As well as the dangers of loud noise, fireworks also pose dangers in terms of pollution and burn injuries.

Categories: array, avoid, Diwali, festival, fireworks, Food, Healthy