{
  "id": 18849753,
  "title": "'Diwali Is More Than Just Burning Crackers': Isha Koppikar Urges People To Celebrate Responsibly - FPJ Exclusive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/diwali-is-more-than-just-burning-crackers-isha-koppikar-urges-people",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-08T03:23:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/diwali-is-more-than-just-burning-crackers-isha-koppikar-urges-people-to-celebrate-responsibly-fpj-exclusive"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Actress Isha Koppikar reminisces about Diwali's past, when celebrations lasted for a week and involved family, traditions, and creating cherished memories. She recalls helping her mother prepare sweets, clean the house, and pack gifts during their festive preparations. Koppikar believes that these experiences instilled positive values in children, shaping them into better individuals.\n\nToday, however, Koppikar feels that the essence of Diwali has shifted. The focus has moved from spending quality time with loved ones and sharing homemade sweets to a competition over who can set off the loudest and most expensive firecrackers. She argues that Diwali should not be reduced to a noisy contest, but rather a time to celebrate with family and friends, cook and distribute sweets, and spread positivity.\n\nKoppikar emphasizes the importance of being environmentally conscious and considerate towards animals while celebrating the festival. While she admits that she and her brother set off firecrackers as children, she urges people to be mindful of the impact these activities have on the environment and voiceless creatures. Festivals, she believes, should be a joyous occasion for everyone, not just a noisy spectacle.",
  "summary": "For actress Isha Koppikar, Diwali has always been about family, traditions and creating beautiful memories. The festival holds a special place in her heart, taking her back to the days when celebrations lasted for more than a week and involved preparing sweets, decorating the house and performing rituals with her family. Looking back at her childhood, the actress recalls how she and her brother…",
  "key_points": [
    "Isha Koppikar reminisces about traditional Diwali celebrations lasting a week.",
    "Modern Diwali focuses on noisy competition of firecrackers.",
    "Koppikar urges responsible celebration, environmental consciousness."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Shifting the focus from loud firecrackers to family traditions and environmental mindfulness reclaims the festival's original purpose as a period for spreading positivity and communal connection.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}