Diwali Brings Lights and Celebrations Across India
WHO:
ABC News World - Diwali is celebrated by more than 1 billion people, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.
ABC News - Shweta Narayan, a public health expert at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, said air pollution is a year-round problem in India and urged people to avoid firecrackers.
ABC News - Dr. Arvind Kumar, a chest surgeon at Medanta hospital near Delhi and founder trustee of the Lung Care Foundation, gave advice on masks, pollution exposure and indoor air.
BBC News - Millions of Indians are expected to celebrate Diwali.
WHAT:
ABC News World - Diwali is described as India’s most important festival and the Festival of Lights.
BBC News - Diwali celebrations feature glowing lamps, fireworks and traditional sweets; homes and temples glow across India.
ABC News - Fireworks add pollution to emissions from traffic, factories, construction dust, and burning crop residues and waste across India, Pakistan and other parts of South Asia.
ABC News - About 1 billion people worldwide celebrate Diwali, a holiday of Hindus and Jains with ties to ancient epics including the *Ramayana*.
ABC News - India’s AQI classifies readings of 201–300 as “poor,” 301–400 as “very poor” and 401–500 as “severe”; severe pollution can harm healthy people.
ABC News - Delhi’s fine-particle pollution averaged about 19 times the World Health Organization’s annual guideline last year; monitors have repeatedly reached their maximum display reading in recent years.
ABC News - Kumar said pollution can cause persistent coughing, inflamed airways and asthma-like attacks, and is associated with increased risks of pneumonia, heart attacks, strokes and lung cancer, as well as impaired lung development in children.
ABC News - N95 masks are designed to capture at least 95% of airborne particles; N99 masks capture at least 99%. Neither filters harmful gases.
ABC News - Fireworks pollution can persist overnight, depending on weather; combined household emissions can worsen air quality across neighborhoods and cities, including for people not setting off fireworks.
WHERE:
ABC News - Hazardous winter air is a concern across South Asia, especially northern India; winter smog also affects parts of Pakistan and China.
ABC News - Delhi, a city of more than 20 million people, is particularly affected by air pollution.
ABC News - The article is datelined Bengaluru, India.
WHY:
ABC News - Weak winds and stagnant winter air allow pollution to build up; warmer air can trap colder air and pollution near the ground.
ABC News - Firecrackers add to existing pollution, and experts warn that winter air pollution raises health concerns during Diwali.
HOW:
ABC News - Experts recommend checking nearby air-quality readings and their update times, wearing properly fitted N95 or N99 masks outdoors during heavy pollution, and avoiding strenuous outdoor exercise.
ABC News - Mask users should cover the nose, mouth and chin, shape the nose clip and check the seal; replace disposable masks when dirty, damaged or difficult to breathe through. Masks should not be used on children younger than 2; people with heart or lung disease should seek medical advice.
ABC News - HEPA purifiers can reduce indoor particles when sized for the room, with airflow kept clear and the device run consistently. Activated-carbon filters can remove some gases; no purifier removes every pollutant.
ABC News - Authorities in Delhi have imposed temporary construction, industrial and vehicle restrictions and are implementing a long-term plan to promote electric vehicles.
ABC News - The article recommends avoiding firecrackers, incense, mosquito coils and candles; using electric lights, kitchen exhausts vented outdoors, damp-mopping and wiping surfaces can reduce smoke or stirred-up particles.
ABC News - Narayan called for sustained government action to address pollution sources and affordable health care, saying, “It’s our responsibility to hold our governments accountable.”
(UPDATED November 7, 2026 12:59 UTC)
Diwali brings light and celebration for a billion people, but fireworks worsen India’s pollution. Winter smog already threatens health, especially in Delhi, where stagnant air traps pollutants. Experts urge avoiding firecrackers, limiting outdoor exertion, and wearing well-fitted masks.