Tips to follow for a safe Diwali 2024

One of India’s favourite festivals, the festival of lights is round the corner. This year, Diwali 2024 falls on November 1, 2024.  Starting October 28, 2024, the festivities begin.

See also: Tips for Diwali home cleaning

Diwali 2024 festival dates

With this festival, comes happiness, sweets, savouries, lots of light and brightness. However, with light and loads of diya in the house, there also is an issue of safety that one has to take care of. Mentioned are precautions that you should take so that the festival remains a happy one.

Lighting of diyas

During Diwali, diyas are lit in most households as it signifies the victory of good over evil. As this involves fire, ensure that proper care is taken while lighting diyas.

• Keep them away from the reach of children.
• Keep them away from any kind of cloth. For instance, if you place diyas on the dining table, ensure that they are far from the table runner; keep diyas away from curtains, table clothes etc.
• Do not light the diyas near exposed electric wires.
• Avoid placing huge lamps on window sills.

LED lights

LED fairy lights are popular for Diwali décor articles. While using them, ensure that they are of good quality. Take the help of a professional to fix them so that there are no open wires and no heavy load on the electric box.

Crackers

One of the main reasons for air and sound pollution during this time of the year is the bursting of crackers. These result in many ailments, including increased bronchitis and even hearing problems. In a bid to arrest the pollution, many state governments have banned the bursting of crackers during Diwali. In many other places, they have come up with green crackers, which reduce the pollution caused in the environment.

If you enjoy bursting crackers,

• Ensure that the crackers are bought from licensed sellers. Store them in a dry, cool place that is very far from any source of fire.
• Store it far from children’s access.
• Children should burst crackers under adult supervision.
• Burst crackers in an open area.
• Ensure that the firecracker is far from you.
• If, for some reason, it doesn’t get lit the first time, do not be persistent. It may so happen that when you go near the cracker, it may burst off, leaving you injured.
• Be focused while bursting crackers.
• Do not light more than one cracker at a time.
• Discard the used crackers properly- preferably in a bucket of water so that they don’t light up and cool off.
• While bursting crackers, ensure you have a bucket of water ready.
• Also, you should have a first aid kit and emergency medical care numbers handy.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy and in working condition to tackle any fire-related issue.
• Pets cannot bear the shock of crackers’ noise and the pollution it brings along. Keep them in a safe place and protect them.

Clothes

While designer dresses are in vogue during Diwali, what you should know is they are also at the highest risk of catching a fire.

• Do not light diyas with heavy flowing dresses.
• Do not keep diyas on the way while walking in the house to avoid fire incidents.
• While bursting crackers, wear cotton clothes that fit well. Avoid things like long sleeves or bell sleeves.