Wishing you a bright and eco-friendly Diwali

November 9 is the start of Hinduism's six-day Festival of Lights, Diwali. This joyous fall celebration signifies the victory of light over dark and is dedicated to the gods Vishnu and Ganesh and the goddess Lakshimi. Diwail is the traditional peak of the calendar year, and it's always a family favorite.

Being the Festival of Light, however, means this isn't always the greenest event. Homes and businesses are decorated in electric lights, and tons of fireworks are set off. Last year, one newspaper reported that people were "choking" in Mumbai from smoke leftover after Diwali fireworks.

Some Indians are pushing for a less polluting holiday. DiwaliFestival.org outlines the three problem areas with current festival customs: air pollution from firecrackers, excessive consumerism, high energy consumption.

Clean India's 'No Crackers on Diwali' page reminds Indians that firecrackers didn't exist in any of the great works of Hindu literature that Diwali is based on. So why use explosives on the holiday?

A charming story on a Mumbai woman's blog suggests ways to turn Diwali from a showy party back into a holiday about giving and sharing, all with minimal impact on the planet.

Seems like no matter the culture, consumerism is creeping into its holidays and junking up our earth. But the trend is reversible. If we make conscious choices about celebrations and purchases, we can limit the amount of garbage and pollution we create.

And that definitely calls for a glass of good cheer.