TIRUNELVELI: Fireworks might be an intrinsic part of Diwali in the country . But, in a Tamil Nadu hamlet, villagers prefer to forego the pleasure of seeing the skies light up to spare the winged visitors to their local tank the agony of ear-deafening sounds. Villagers of Nanalkulam in Tirunelveli district have not celebrated Diwali since 2008. They prefer to sacrifice the fun in order to safeguard thousands of exotic birds that visit their village tank every year. As a token of appreciation, members of Tamil Nadu Special Police IX battalion stationed at Manimuathur, including its commandant D Jayavel, will join them in cele brating a `bird friendly Diwali' on Saturday . In 2008, Agasthyamalai Community-based Conservation Centre (ACCC), a research wing of Bengaluru-based ATREE Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment) along with students from Nanalkulam undertook a study on migratory birds and discov ered that every Diwali, many species like the Black-headed Ibis, Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Oriental Darter, Purple Heron, Grey Heron and Spoon bill fluttered into the Vagaikulam tank to breed.

“This is the time when they generally arrive,“ said ACCC coordinator M Mathivanan. This is among the few wetland habitats for these winged visitors after Koonthankulam birds sanctuary in Tirunelveli. “For last five years, villagers have been celebrating without fireworks.Barring some sparklers and flowerpots, it is a fireworksfree festival for villagers“, said Veerasamuthiram panchayat president A Nagoor Kani.

Environmentalists bat for eco-Diwali

In Coimbatore, environmentalists are batting for an eco-friendly Diwali this year. Several of them have begun running campaigns to spread awareness on the need to abstain from bursting fireworks, which cause both noise and air pollution. They said it was more important for people, who have pets, and also those who live along forest fringes and water tanks, to avoid fireworks, as it will scare animals. The district's location at the foothills of the Western Ghats and its plenty of water bodies, they said, has its pros and cons. “It is important for people to realise where they live and protect the natural habitat,“ said environmentalist Umesh Marudachalam.