With Diwali around the corner, Delhi is once again confronting a seasonal spike in air pollution despite government restrictions intended to control emissions. Although measures are in place to manage the capital’s worsening Air Quality Index (AQI), deterioration typically begins right after Dussehra, when thousands of Ravana effigies are burned across the state, releasing pollutants into the atmosphere.
This year, Delhi’s air quality took a significant hit post-Dussehra, shifting from the ‘moderate’ to the ‘poor’ category a day after the celebrations.
The traditional burning of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad effigies across Delhi, often packed with firecrackers, took place on Dussehra . The celebrations, a symbolic victory of good over evil, contributed to an initial spike in pollutants that have further complicated the city’s ongoing fight against air pollution. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s AQI touched 224, slipping into the ‘poor’ category—a shift seen a day after Dussehra festivities.
Data from the past years underscores this trend. In 2023, Delhi reached a ‘poor’ AQI level of 212 by October 6, followed by 211 on October 5 in 2022. In 2021, the city’s first ‘poor’ air quality day arrived slightly later, on October 16, due to limited activity during the pandemic.
Dussehra celebrations act as a precursor to the seasonal drop in Delhi’s air quality, which typically worsens during Diwali. Government measures such as restrictions on firecrackers, increased monitoring of emissions, and public advisories have been introduced, yet the post-Dussehra air pollution surge remains challenging to address. The city’s struggles with high pollution levels are exacerbated by this early decline in AQI, which often begins in October.
The government has introduced several pollution control measures in the lead-up to Diwali, such as restrictions on firecrackers and targeted emissions regulations, hoping to mitigate the annual pollution surge. Yet, these efforts face challenges as pollution levels tend to rise during the festival season due to various sources, including crop stubble burning in neighboring states and increased vehicular emissions.
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