India, Oct. 12 -- To crack or not to crack! Crackers or no crackers! It is a much-debated issue. To some, crackers have emotional and sentimental value. Celebrate with high-decibel, eye-filling explosions! Some point to the economic benefit of the many workers employed in the explosives industry. Some bat for its religious reverberations!

Some fervently say fireworks are deeply tied to historical and religious traditions symbolising the triumph of light over darkness. Tourism and entertainment industries promote crowd-pulling pyrotechnics through large-scale public displays. Some even claim that "responsible" use is a matter of personal freedom and festive expression.

They have a point, so they believe. But we also need to understand wh...