Delhi, the capital city of India, woke up to a thick, toxic haze following the Hindu festival of Diwali, despite a court directive intended to curb pollution from fireworks. The air quality in the city deteriorated significantly after celebrations, highlighting ongoing challenges in managing pollution during this festive period. The Diwali festival, widely celebrated not only by Hindus but also by Sikhs and Jains, traditionally involves the bursting of firecrackers, which contributes heavily to the already poor air quality. This year, many people defied the court’s order to use only ‘green’ fireworks—firecrackers that purportedly emit fewer pollutants—and continued to set off traditional fireworks late into the night.
Delhi’s air quality has been a persistent problem throughout the year, primarily due to factors such as vehicular emissions, dust, and industrial pollution. However, in the days leading up to and following Diwali, the situation worsened dramatically. On the morning after the festival, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 360, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. To put this into perspective, the AQI measures levels of PM 2.5—fine particulate matter small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered moderate, 201 to 300 is poor, 301 to 400 is very poor, and anything above 400 is deemed severe. Delhi’s levels were alarmingly high, with some areas recording PM 2.5 concentrations 24 times the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter over a 24-hour period.
The city’s pollution problem typically intensifies in the winter months for several reasons. One major contributor is crop stubble burning by farmers in neighboring states like Punjab and Haryana. After harvest season, farmers set fire to the leftover wheat stubble to prepare fields for the next crop, releasing enormous quantities of smoke and particulate matter into the atmosphere. Additionally, the cold winter weather brings low wind speeds, which trap these pollutants close to the ground rather than dispersing them. This creates a thick smog that makes breathing difficult and reduces visibility across the city.
Due to these recurring problems, Delhi, along with its surrounding suburbs, imposed a ban on firecrackers during Diwali starting in 2020. The ban aimed to reduce the spike in air pollution that typically accompanies the festival. However, enforcement of this ban has been inconsistent. Despite the restrictions, firecrackers remained widely available in many shops, and people continued to use them during the celebrations.
In a recent development, India’s Supreme Court relaxed the blanket ban on fireworks, permitting the use of ‘green crackers.’ These crackers are manufactured to emit roughly 20-30% fewer pollutants and produce minimal ash compared to traditional firecrackers. Nonetheless, critics argue that even green crackers release toxic substances harmful to both health and the environment. In the days leading up to Diwali, BBC reporters observed that traditional firecrackers were still openly sold in shops, despite the court’s guidelines. Furthermore, the court had stipulated strict time limits for bursting green crackers—only one hour in the morning and two hours in the evening on Diwali and the day before. Yet, in many neighborhoods, the noise and smoke from fireworks persisted well past midnight, violating these restrictions.
Describing conditions on the morning after Diwali, BBC reporter Vikas Pandey, who lives in Noida, a suburb of Delhi, shared his experience. Leaving for an early flight around 6 a.m., he noticed the unmistakable smell of burning charcoal in the air. The smoke was so thick that visibility was severely reduced. Buildings that are usually visible during that time of day were obscured behind a dense veil of smog. The air was so polluted that Pandey could literally taste ash in his mouth—a stark reminder of the severity of the pollution crisis.
Experts have expressed concern that the recent relaxation of rules around firecrackers may undermine the growing public awareness about the dangers of air pollution. Over the past few years, efforts to educate people about the health risks associated with poor air quality had been gaining traction. However, the continued use of firecrackers, even if green ones, threatens to reverse this progress and exacerbate the city’s already critical pollution levels.
It is important to note that Delhi’s air quality was already classified as ‘very poor’ with AQI values exceeding 300 for