Diwali boom brings joy, but air turns toxic

As Diwali lights up the night skies of India, the glow of fireworks brings both celebration and concern. This festive season, the firecracker business is booming like never before, but so is the country’s air pollution.

Across major cities, markets are witnessing a surge in firecracker sales. Industry estimates suggest that the Indian firecracker sector is now worth over ₹6,000 crore, employing more than three lakh people and supporting thousands of small factories, especially in Tamil Nadu’s Sivakasi. In Gujarat, West Bengal and Maharashtra, retailers report record sales, with many saying demand has nearly doubled compared to last year.

Families are spending more on bright, colourful fireworks, especially so-called “green crackers” that promise reduced emissions. Yet, studies show that even these variants still release heavy metals and fine particulate matter.

While the booming business provides livelihoods and fuels local economies, it also comes with an undeniable cost. Within hours of the Diwali night celebrations, pollution levels in several cities spiked dramatically. In Delhi, air quality monitors showed nearly all stations falling into the “red zone,” with some recording AQI levels above 400, a range classified as “severe.”

This means the air is thick with toxic particles — PM2.5 and PM10 that can easily enter the lungs and bloodstream, aggravating asthma, allergies, and heart conditions. Doctors across urban centres have reported an increase in respiratory complaints after the festival night.

The problem is compounded by weather conditions during late October and November. As wind speeds drop and temperatures cool, pollutants remain trapped closer to the ground, turning cities into smoky chambers.

Environmental experts say that without stricter regulation and greater awareness, the annual post-Diwali pollution spike will continue to threaten public health. They emphasize the need for genuine low-emission alternatives, better enforcement of green cracker norms, and a cultural shift towards quieter, eco-friendly celebrations.

Still, for millions of Indians, Diwali fireworks remain inseparable from joy, nostalgia, and tradition. The challenge ahead is not to extinguish that joy, but to find ways to celebrate it responsibly, so that the festival of lights doesn’t become a festival of smog.