Festival of Lights, Season of Smog: India's Air Crisis in a Global Context

Festivals are significant markers of cultural heritage and community traditions. Nevertheless, every year, significant increases in pollution levels are recorded during celebratory events, due to the overuse of firecrackers. This study evaluated gaseous and particulate matter (PM) concentrations using a gas and particulate sampler, alongside noise levels measured by a sound level meter, during the pre-topost-Diwali period of 2023 and 2024 in Malda, India

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Festivals bring color, joy, and togetherness to our lives. They are moments when communities unite to celebrate shared traditions, illuminate their homes, and fill the air with laughter and light. Yet, behind the glow of diyas and the sparkle of fireworks lies a growing environmental concern the haze that settles in once the celebration ends.

In India, Diwali, the festival of lights, symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Across cities and villages, millions celebrate by lighting lamps, exchanging sweets, and setting off firecrackers. However, as the skies glitter with bursts of color, invisible clouds of smoke and dust begin to form a mix of gases, metals, and fine particulate matter that linger in the air long after the lights fade.

This phenomenon isn't unique to India. Across the globe, New Year's Eve is marked by dazzling fireworks displays that brighten the night and darken the atmosphere. The brief euphoria often comes with an environmental cost: a sharp rise in air pollution levels, sometimes exceeding safe limits many times over.