Delhi woke to a thick blanket of smoke and a sharp decline in air quality on Diwali morning, October 20, 2025, as the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 335, categorised as “very poor” by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The surge in pollution followed widespread bursting of firecrackers overnight, despite restrictions, which also caused significant noise pollution. Most of Delhi’s 38 monitoring stations reported AQI levels above 300, with Anand Vihar (414) and Wazirpur (407) hitting the “severe” category, posing serious health risks to residents. The CPCB noted that only two stations, Sri Aurobindo Marg (165) and DTU (198), recorded “moderate” air quality, underscoring the widespread deterioration across the capital.

The Supreme Court had permitted only green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for Diwali, restricting their use to specific hours: 6 am to 7 pm the day before Diwali and 8 am to 10 pm on the festival day. This followed a previous blanket ban on all fireworks due to their contribution to air and noise pollution. Green firecrackers, designed to emit fewer pollutants, were intended to mitigate environmental damage, but the AQI spike suggests limited compliance. The CPCB forecasts that air quality may worsen further, potentially reaching the “severe” category on Tuesday and Wednesday, driven by continued festivities and meteorological factors trapping pollutants.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta urged residents to celebrate Diwali traditionally, emphasising eco-friendly practices like lighting diyas, creating rangoli, and sharing sweets to curb pollution. Her appeal highlighted the need to protect the city’s environment, particularly during the festival season when air quality typically deteriorates. The AQI scale classifies levels between 0 and 50 as “good”, 51 and 100 as “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 as “moderate”, 201 and 300 as “poor”, 301 and 400 as “very poor”, and 401 and 500 as “severe”. Prolonged exposure to “very poor” or “severe” air quality can cause respiratory issues and exacerbate health conditions, especially for vulnerable groups.

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The worsening air quality underscores Delhi’s ongoing struggle with pollution during Diwali, despite regulatory efforts. Environmental experts warn that without stricter enforcement and public cooperation, the city’s air quality crisis will persist. As Delhiites continue their celebrations, authorities are urging residents to prioritise health and environmental concerns, with calls for greater adherence to green firecracker guidelines and traditional, low-pollution festivities.

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