New Delhi, Oct 31 (EFE).- India on Thursday was celebrating the popular Hindu festival of Diwali, when the facades of houses are illuminated with lights and people exchange sweets and gifts, amid alarming levels of pollution in some cities across the country, including the capital, New Delhi.
“Best wishes to my countrymen on Deepavali. On this divine festival of lights, I wish everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous life,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X.
The celebration of this festival of lights is rooted in Hindu mythology and according to the Ramayana, a Hindu epic, it marks the return of Hindu Lord Rama to his kingdom after defeating the demon king Ravana in Sri Lanka.
People light up their homes and public spaces to celebrate his return, and also to welcome Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, who is believed to visit people’s houses on this day.
On Wednesday night, 2.5 million lamps were lit in the Indian city of Ayodhya – associated with the legend – creating a Guinness world record.
But in addition to lighting up the streets and homes, this Hindu festival is also celebrated with the burning of firecrackers and fireworks.
The burning of firecrackers has been one of the main concerns of the Indian authorities in the weeks leading up to Diwali, given that it usually leads to an alarming increase in pollution levels, especially in New Delhi.
The Indian capital woke up on Thursday covered in its usual blanket of thick smog with an air quality index (AQI) that exceeded 400 in some neighborhoods, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
An AQI value of over 400 is considered hazardous and affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases
To avoid an increase in pollution levels that usually accompanies Diwali, the capital’s authorities banned the sale and use of fireworks until 2025, which did not prevent people from burning them until late Wednesday night in some areas of New Delhi.
Several other measures are also being implemented, including the sweeping and cleaning of roads with water to control the dispersion of dust.
The pollution peaks that New Delhi usually experiences at this time of year, when temperatures drop and wind speeds are lower, are also worsened by polluting emissions from vehicles, construction dust and the burning of stubble in rural areas surrounding the capital. EFE
hbc/pd