Delhi's Diwali saw hazardous air quality, with the AQI reaching 'severe' levels. Despite green cracker regulations, widespread use worsened pollution. This comes as across India, Diwali was celebrated with lights, prayers, and greetings.
As the nation lit up for Diwali on Monday, Delhi’s skies were blanketed by a thick haze, with most of its air monitoring stations flashing alarming red. According to official data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 34 of the 38 stations in the city recorded air quality in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ range.
Delhi's Air Quality Slips Further On Diwali
As residents of the national capital celebrated Diwali with fireworks on Monday evening, Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply, with a majority of monitoring stations registering pollution levels in the alarming 'red zone.' According to data compiled by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) plunged into the 'very poor' category, a significant decline expected to worsen in the coming days.
The impact of the festive season's emissions was immediately evident across Delhi. By 10 pm on Monday, the city’s overall AQI was logged at 344—firmly in the 'very poor' band. A staggering 36 out of 38 official monitoring stations reported pollution levels in the 'red zone,' which signifies air quality ranging from 'very poor' to 'severe', news agency PTI reported.
Four specific locations crossed the dangerous 400-mark, entering the 'severe' category (401-500). As per the SAMEER app, developed by the CPCB, these stations were: Dwarka (417), Ashok Vihar (404), Wazirpur (423), and Anand Vihar (404).
The overall 24-hour average AQI, which is officially recorded at 4 pm daily, stood at 345 for the day, marking an uptick from the 326 recorded on Sunday. Even earlier in the day, the picture was grim, with 31 out of 38 stations already recording 'very poor' air quality in the afternoon, and three stations registering 'severe' pollution levels.
The situation is expected to deteriorate further over the next few days. The air quality could slip into the 'severe' category more widely on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The CPCB defines the categories of air quality as follows: 0-50 is 'good', 51-100 is 'satisfactory', 101-200 is 'moderate', 201-300 is 'poor', 301-400 is 'very poor', and 401-500 is 'severe'.
While seasonal factors like stubble burning often grab headlines, data from the Decision Support System (DSS) provided a breakdown of local factors contributing to Monday’s pollution. Transport emissions accounted for 15.6 per cent of the capital's air pollution, while other factors, including industries, contributed 23.3 per cent.
The Supreme Court had earlier permitted the sale and bursting of certified eco-friendly green crackers in Delhi-NCR between 6 am and 7 pm and again from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali eve and the festival day. Despite the regulated window, firecrackers were widely used across the national capital on Monday night, worsening the air quality.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta urged citizens to protect Delhi from pollution by sticking to green crackers and celebrating through traditional means such as lighting diyas, making rangolis, and sharing sweets.
People were seen bursting crackers in the national capital to celebrate the festival.
#WATCH | Delhi: People burst crackers and celebrate #Diwali. Visuals from Dwarka Sector 5. Supreme Court allowed green crackers in Delhi this time. pic.twitter.com/zrwybZsZTR
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2025
#WATCH | Delhi: People burst crackers and celebrate #Diwali. Visuals from Dwarka area. Supreme Court allowed green crackers in Delhi this time. pic.twitter.com/JXvEhOY5hf
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2025
According to news agency ANI, Delhi Fire Service stated that more than 170 calls pertaining to fire incidents were received in Delhi till 11:30 PM during Diwali.
Diwali 2025: Nation Lights Up, Leaders Extend Greetings
Across India, homes and streets were decked with lamps and colourful lights. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended Diwali greetings, wishing that the festival “illuminate our lives with harmony, happiness and prosperity; and a spirit of positivity prevail all around us.”
The Prime Minister celebrated Diwali with naval personnel aboard INS Vikrant off the Goa coast. “Today, on one side, I have infinite horizons and infinite sky, and on the other side, I have this giant, INS Vikrant, embodying infinite powers. The glow of the sun’s rays on the ocean’s waters is like the Diwali lamps lit by brave soldiers,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Modi performed yoga on the deck, witnessed a steampast and flypast, addressed naval personnel, and distributed sweets. Later, he met President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan at Rashtrapati Bhavan to exchange greetings.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Murmu stated: “On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, I extend my greetings and best wishes to all Indians residing in India and abroad.”
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi marked the day differently, sharing a video of himself preparing imarti and besan laddoo at Old Delhi’s famed Ghantewala sweet shop. He wished people on Diwali and asked them to share how they were making the festival special.
Diwali 2025: Festivities Across States
The spirit of Diwali was equally vibrant across states. In Goa, effigies of the demon Narakasur were burnt at dawn, while in Rajasthan, crowds thronged temples such as Jaipur’s Govind Dev Ji, which was specially adorned with a golden Lappa outfit for the deity. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma urged people to support local products and opt for an eco-conscious Diwali.
In Uttar Pradesh, temples in Varanasi, including Kashi Vishwanath, glittered with lights and flowers. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayers at Ayodhya’s Hanumangarhi temple and wished citizens prosperity. In a rare display of communal harmony, Muslim women from the Muslim Women’s Foundation and Vishal Bharat Sansthan performed an aarti of Lord Ram in Varanasi.
In Haryana, police officers celebrated by visiting orphanages, slums and old-age homes, distributing sweets and lighting lamps with children and the elderly.
Across West Bengal, devotees crowded the Kalighat, Dakshineswar, and Thanthania Kali Bari temples for Kali Puja, which coincides with Diwali.
In Jharkhand, celebrations were held within the state’s two-hour firecracker window (8 pm to 10 pm), as mandated by the Pollution Control Board.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha inaugurated Diwali festivities at the Maa Tripura Sundari temple in Gomati district — one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.
Despite heavy rains in Tamil Nadu, people celebrated with enthusiasm, bursting crackers between 6 am–7 am and 7 pm–8 pm, as allowed by a 2018 Supreme Court directive. Governor R N Ravi, Opposition Leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, and actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan conveyed greetings. The state reported 89 firecracker-related injuries through the day.
The Koyambedu area in Chennai witnessed a thin layer of haze in the air in the evening.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Koyambedu area in Chennai witnesses a thin layer of haze in the air this evening. pic.twitter.com/qhjYx8uWVt
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2025
Firecracker smoke also led to low visibility in Thanjavur.
VIDEO | Firecrackers smoke leads to low visibility in Thanjavur.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 20, 2025
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/YOaUKFePCF
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