Several schools in Kolkata and adjoining areas are urging students and parents to limit or avoid firecrackers ahead of Diwali, citing concerns over air pollution, respiratory discomfort and the impact of noise on people and animals.
IEM Public School Salt Lake recently sent a circular to parents and began classroom discussions earlier this week on the harmful effects of firecracker smoke. The school said worsening air quality in Calcutta could make breathing difficult and aggravate irritation in the eyes, nose and skin. It also highlighted the impact on children, senior citizens, people with respiratory sensitivities, pets and the wider environment.
“With Calcutta’s air quality raising concerns, the smoke from firecrackers can make breathing difficult and aggravate irritation in the eyes, nose and skin,” the school said in its circular. It urged students to “celebrate responsibly” and give the city “cleaner air and brighter skies”, adding that celebrations should not come at the cost of someone’s health.
John Bagul, principal-director of IEM Public School Salt Lake, said teachers had also discussed climate change with students, including the relationship between environmental events such as the Nepal floods and wider ecological systems. He acknowledged that school messaging alone might not significantly change pollution levels but said that would not prevent the institution from telling children what it considered responsible behaviour.
The state government has restricted firecracker bursting to the 8pm-to-10pm period on Diwali. State home secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh said that only green crackers would be allowed during that window. The restrictions come as many residents have reportedly begun purchasing crackers and travelling to the city’s outskirts to source them at lower prices.
Julien Day Schools in Calcutta, Ganganagar, Kalyani and Howrah have asked students to follow the government guidelines and focus on family gatherings and “human connections” instead of a noisy and polluting celebration. Terence John, the schools’ director of education and development, said students had been told that Diwali was a time to meet, greet and resolve differences within families.
The schools’ messaging has also included the effect of firecracker noise on animals. Pets may retreat into inaccessible parts of homes, while street dogs and cats often have no such protected space when explosions begin. Gargi Banerjee, principal of Sri Sri Academy, said children who had pets at home were often more sensitive to animals, but that such sensitivity required continuous reinforcement rather than a one-day or one-year effort.
The schools’ campaigns place classroom awareness alongside the state’s two-hour restriction and green-cracker requirement. Their immediate focus is on encouraging students and families to observe the rules and reduce exposure to smoke and noise during the festival period.
