New Delhi, Oct. 29 -- The former judge of the Supreme Court of India, Justice Abhay S Oka, on Wednesday said that by bursting firecrackers, lakhs of people taking baths in rivers, idol immersion and use of loudspeakers in religious festivals are not essential religious practices guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution.

Justice Oka further stated that no religion permits or encourages us to destroy the environment; rather, it teaches us to protect the environment and to show compassion to living beings and animals.

"Unfortunately, there is a tendency to damage the environment in the name of religion. If we examine the tenets of all the religions in India, we will find the message of protecting the environment and showing compassi...