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.