Hindu activists burnt firecrackers in front of a Catholic school in India’s Madhya Pradesh state to protest a street play on environmental protection and safe celebrations of Diwali, the festival of lights.
The protesters accused the Christian missionaries of defaming Hindu festivals. School authorities denied the allegations.
“We never intended to target anybody or any religion or its festival,” said Sister Neha Mathew, the school principal.
The Catholic nun said the students tried to communicate the message of celebrating the Diwali festival safely, adding that “there was nothing against Hindu religion or its traditions.”
The nun said the students and teachers celebrated Diwali in the school together.
The protesters accused the Catholic school of deliberately targeting the Hindu festival through the play that claims that cracking firecrackers would lead to environmental pollution.
On Diwali people decorate their houses, offices and even government buildings with lights and burst firecrackers as part of the celebration.
Often the extensive use of firecrackers during Diwali result in pollution, especially in major cities.
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