Delhi air quality turns 'very poor' after Diwali 2025 firecracker use

Delhi's air quality dropped sharply in the hours after Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which fell on 20 October 2025. By the morning of 21 October, the city's Air Quality Index had slipped into the "very poor" category, with some monitoring stations in the capital recording worse readings.

Firecrackers were widely burst across Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region on the night of the festival. This happened despite curbs: Delhi has restricted crackers in recent years because of chronic winter pollution. Ahead of the festival, India's Supreme Court had allowed only low-emission "green" crackers, and only during limited time windows. Reports from many neighbourhoods suggested those limits were ignored.

The pollution was worsened by the season. In October and November, cooler air and weak winds trap smoke and dust close to the ground, and farm-stubble burning in neighbouring states adds to the burden. The post-Diwali spike renewed the yearly debate over whether firecracker bans can be enforced, and over the health risks for children, older people and those with breathing problems.