The city is in celebration mode as Diwali is upon us. One must remember, though, that all celebrations and revelry must be tempered with responsibility. Every time Diwali comes around, there are suggestions that it is time for the government to start thinking about designating certain spots in the city as ‘firecracker zones’. This means that people celebrating the festival by bursting crackers are allowed to do so only in those zones.

This would be a step that would not curb the fun of the festival but simply ensure a safer Diwali. Yet, it is a debatable issue for the future. Right now, the focus should be on safe celebrations. Several times, Diwali revellers fling crackers directly onto the path of vehicles or even those who are walking on the road. Their intention is not to harm the commuter or pedestrian, but accidents can occur and they have done so in the past.