India came alive with the magical light of Diwali yesterday. Along the Indian-Pakistan border, soldiers exchanged sweets. In Kolkata, people eagerly celebrated Kali Puja.

However, as well as being festival of lights, Diwali is also festival of noise. Many people love to burst crackers, the louder the better. They burst them all over the roads, in markets, and near homes. After one went off near my ear last year, leaving me half deaf for a day, I refused to go outside yesterday. Every Diwali, there are tragedies, with people getting burned and killed from crackers. Fortunately, the bursting of loud crackers has been actively discouraged by the government, to reduce pollution and make it easier on the ears. Of course, the challenge is in implementing the rules.

What do you think? What’s been your experience with crackers?