Festival of Lights

Diwali – the festival of lights and joy finally breaks the time lag to bring celebrations amongst the long-prevailing minds of anxiety and fear from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, caution is justified to not lose our safety as we dive into the fiesta.

Diwali festival revolves around engaging in social bonding, firecrackers, lighting diyas, and lanterns, sharing delicacies, gifting, and much more. The excitement is at apogee as the sky is chock-full with lights and folks are eager to reunite.

Healthy Diwali 2021

This year, nevertheless, Diwali equally invites precautions to be followed as we badge the global phase of the post-COVID period. One may follow basic COVID-appropriate measures to endure the Diwali festive mood in a safe and responsible way.

“While Diwali marks the coming together of people as one single community, the onset of a third wave of the pandemic is still a big concern. Therefore, it is imperative to take appropriate caution and care to celebrate the festival of lights without compromising on health or safety. It is also essential to take general precautionary measures to avoid any sort of mishap or adverse effects on health during Diwali” says Dr. Arunesh Kumar, Senior Consultant, and Head, Pulmonology, Paras Hospitals, Gurugram.

Some reports suspect a hike in COVID-19 cases and emerging variants post-social gatherings or celebrations, this Diwali as people may fail to follow safety measures in their filled enthuse.

However, this year, the critical recovery from COVID-19 warrants high awareness of safety measures (not only to crackers but also to COVID-19) to sustain the dip in COVID-19 cases and keep the lurking danger of the third wave of the pandemic at bay.

General Measures during Global Recovery

As you set the Diwali celebrations in full swing, remember to follow safety practices like the following:

Wear a mask when you are in the crowd/ head outside
Maintain physical distancing (at least 1 meter) when you engage in celebration as the festival signifies the victory of good over evil
Limit the gatherings to a minimum and cherish the joy of smaller get-togethers if feasible
Ensure cleaning of your hands with soap & water before grabbing on the sweets/delicacies
Refrain from using sanitizers when bursting crackers, lighting diyas/candles, or cooking in the kitchen; the alcohol content in sanitizers may inflame when near fire and result in severe fire hazards
Opt for hand-washing instead
Prevent the viral spread by coughing into a bent elbow or tissue
Seek medical advice immediately if you suspect COVID-19 symptoms

Cautions for COVID-19 Patients

With mounting pollution amidst Diwali, concern for various respiratory symptoms or vulnerabilities arises, especially among COVID warriors. The environmental pollutants from the crackers may make one badly fall sick. There have been several data highlighting the great impact of crackers on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

"COVID-19 is a respiratory infection, and poor air quality is hazardous for all. The loud noise of the crackers is harmful to animals as well. Hence, from this year, don’t burst crackers and encourage others to join you in this endeavour," says Dr. Sandeep Patil, Chief Intensivist, Fortis Hospital, Kalyan.

It is suggested that the pollution levels inside the homes can also peak up to 5-folds and pose susceptibility to various ailments of respiratory, immune, and cardiovascular systems. This may sum up even more with the threat of coronavirus.

One may also consider green/eco-friendly crackers (if one cannot avoid crackers), diyas/lanterns, and religious combustive elements as they have limited carbon emission and lesser impact on lungs and pollution levels.
Avoid bursting crackers indoors to limit the pollution hazards.
Ensure proper ventilation of the rooms as you engage in puja and lighting diyas.
Wear masks if you are in a pollution zone.
Consider getting air-purifying indoor green plants or high-efficiency air purification devices to nullify the perils of pollution.

Healthy Food for Diwali

Overeating may be tempting, especially when the bountiful feast of delicacies and sweets treats our senses – vision to the palate. Nevertheless, do not forget healthy eating especially for COVID patients to subdue the viral effects.

"We often tend to have no control over what we’re eating during festivals. Stay away from sweets if you have diabetes and consume calorie-dense food with restraint," says Dr. Patil.

Keep your immune system boosted with healthy and home-cooked delicacies; limit outside food.
Eat smaller meals throughout the day to avoid the load on your stomach
Consume lots of veggies and fruits to revitalize your body.
Drink plenty of water to fill your celebration with energy; avoid artificial juices or beverages.
Consider gifting nuts, fruits, or even online gifts this Diwali as we emphasize health as our global priority.
One may also consider nutritious snacking options this Diwali for their guests.

Safety Post COVID-19 Vaccinations

Being jabbed does not guarantee one to liberalize with the COVID-appropriate behaviors. It is equally important for people to follow the necessary safety precautions even after post-COVID-19 vaccination.

“Vaccination is to prevent serious illness, but not a guarantee that a person will not get infected. A vaccinated person can not only contract the virus, but can also circulate it by infecting others. People with low immunity such as cancer, drug-resistant TB and transplant patients along with those who could not take COVID vaccine due to various health issues might be at greater risk,” says Prof Virendra Atam, head of medicine department at King George’s Medical University (KGMU).

Being occupied with families and celebrations during Diwali may also let one forget their routine and medications on time; however, it is imperative that medications are not skipped.
Try setting reminders on your gadgets like mobile phones or smartwatches or simply sticking a reminder note on visible places.
For people with allergies, wheezing, or other respiratory ailments, it is advised that they keep their inhalers and medicines accessible.

Cherish the Bliss of Lights

A slight lowering of our guards may summon malicious and grappling effects of deadly coronavirus yet again. Hence, it is central that we join together to light up the vibrations of rather a safe Diwali.

Welcome a harmless and non-toxic festive air (free-of-COVID) this Diwali. Be proactive in ensuring safety for you and others as the festal season unfolds the celebration of good deeds in unity.

“Wishing you all a happy and safe Diwali 2021!”