India, Nov. 8 -- The idea of a firecracker-free Diwali at Gandhi Bal Mandir, an aided Marathi-medium school in Kurla, started with a simple question. Soon after schools reopened following the Covid-19 pandemic, the school's English teacher Jaywant Kulkarni asked students how much money they had spent on firecrackers during Diwali. A quick calculation revealed a collective expenditure of Rs.65,000. Kulkarni took the opportunity to explain that Diwali could be celebrated with equal joy without firecrackers, reminding the students how people had celebrated a pollution-free Diwali during the pandemic. Other teachers of the school also sensitised them about the harmful effects of firecrackers, encouraging them to think about how the money could be put to better use. The students warmed up to the idea and the school has been promoting a firecracker-free Diwali since 2022. This year, around 100 NCC cadets from the school will collect money to provide food and educational materials to children in drought-hit areas. "We want them to understand the importance of sharing happiness and helping others," said Vishwanath Panchal, NCC coordinator. According to Kulkarni, the biggest impact of the initiative was that many former students still avoid firecrackers. "Some of them tell us that the school helped them develop a good habit, which they continue to follow even after leaving school," he said....