Villagers give up crackers for winged visitors

Continuing with its tradition, five villages near the Vellode Birds Sanctuary, 15 km from here, did not burst crackers during Diwali fearing it might scare away the winged visitors.
This is the 15th successive year that residents of Mettupalayam, Thatchenkattuvazhi, Pungambady, Meenakshipuram and Semmandampalayam villages celebrated Diwali without bursting crackers.
Officials said hundreds of local and other country birds visit the sanctuary from October, lay eggs, hatch them and leave in December. This year also some Australian Pelicans and other local birds have arrived.
Villagers said they decided not to burst crackers during the festival as it would scare the birds away. They allow their children and others to use sparklers.

This year also more than 5,000 people in the five villages celebrated a 'silent' Diwali without bursting crackers, they said.