Hindus are urging all cities of Canada to allow fireworks on the occasion of Diwali, the most popular of Hindu festivals, like the cities of Brampton and Mississauga, both in the province of Ontario.
According to reports, Brampton residents are allowed to use short-range fireworks on their private property four times a year (Victoria Day, Canada Day, Diwali and New Year’s Eve) without the need for a permit. City of Mississauga allows fireworks to be set off on Victoria Day, Canada Day, Diwali and Chinese New Year waiving the permit requirements, reports suggest.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that fireworks were an inherent and important part of Diwali celebrations. In view of fast changing demographics and continuing growth of Hindu populations in increasingly diverse and multicultural Canada, marking Hindu presence in all its cities; respective city governments should seriously re-look into their regulations and allow permit-free fireworks on Diwali, so that Hindu communities did not feel left out.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Julie Payette to persuade respective cities/towns of Canada to allow fireworks on Diwali without permit requirements on the pattern of Brampton and Mississauga. Hinduism was rich in festivals and religious festivals were very dear and sacred to Hindus, Zed added.
According to Rajan Zed; Diwali, the festival of lights, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. In 2018, Diwali falls on November seven. Hinduism is oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents.