<span style="color: #222222;">Koonthankulam village in Tirunelveli district of Tamilnadu is unique in celebrating Deepavali (Diwali) without bursting crackers.<br />'' <br />'' This practice was voluntarily adopted by the inhabitants of this village from 1994, so that the migratory birds which frequent the village might not feel threatened.<br />'' <br />'' It is also noteworthy that the villagers completely avoid the use of crackers even during the celebrations of temple festivals as well as household functions like marriages.<br />'' <br />'' Ornithologists have observed that more than 45 species of birds from countries as far away as Siberia and Australia come to Koonthankulam for breeding purposes. The birds usually come in December and start return journeys during the period from August to October.<br />'' <br />'' The Kovai based Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology has been conducting studies on the migratory pattern of birds using Koonthankulam as a base centre.</span><br />''