Tamil Nadu villages skip Diwali crackers for 21 years to protect birds

 In an inspiring effort to safeguard wildlife, villagers near Vellode Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu embrace a cracker-free Diwali tradition that spans over twenty years. Children are now enjoying the festival with sparklers, while the community comes together to wear new clothes and indulge in festive delicacies, celebrating both their culture and the revered ecology of the sanctuary, which draws numerous migratory birds each year. In an inspiring effort to safeguard wildlife, villagers near Vellode Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu embrace a cracker-free Diwali tradition that spans over twenty years. Children are now enjoying the festival with sparklers, while the community comes together to wear new clothes and indulge in festive delicacies, celebrating both their culture and the revered ecology of the sanctuary, which draws numerous migratory birds each year.