The festival of lights ,Diwali is one such festival where people across India and beyond eagerly wait to enhance the beauty of their homes with diyas and lights and then light crackers with family and loved ones with extreme joy and fun.
And despite the restrictions and ban in bursting crackers , people still consider Diwali fulfilled only through lighting and bursting crackers.
But interestingly , there are some unique villages in India where People have been celebrating Diwali without any firecrackers for many years and these villages are in Tamil Nadu’s Tirupathur District. There is also no official ban or restrictions imposed but its all because of a noble cause.
People of Vettangudipatti and Periya Kollukudipatti villages have been celebrating environment friendly Diwali for the migratory birds that visit the Vettangudi birds’ sanctuary.
Covering an area of 40 hectares the Vettangudi Birds’ Sanctuary in Tiruppathur Taluk is located close to the villages and is a natural habitat of winter migratory birds which arrive from Switzerland , Russia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. the sanctuary attracts around 15000 birds a year. It is a breeding habitat for Darters, Grey Herons, White Ibis, Spoonbills, Night Herons and Asian Open Bill Stork. It also attracts Little Cormorant, Painted stork, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Common Teal, Pintail and Spot Bill Ducks.
The sanctuary is a safe home for over 200 species of migratory birds for almost half a century.
The villagers think bursting crackers will scare away the migratory birds who come from other states or countries. They consider their villages as home to those migratory birds as well.
And as per reports they villagers are consistent in following the same rule even in other occasions like marriages and other rituals also.
Sivaganga, TN| Vettangudipatti & Periya Kollukudipatti Village has been celebrating Diwali without firecrackers for several years for migratory birds that visit Vettangudi bird sanctuary
I'm 75 years old & have never celebrated Diwali as this is home to our birds as well: Local pic.twitter.com/kRr6qgzeCs
— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2022
