Apart from diyas and candles, Diwali is also about crackers. For some, this is what makes the festival of lights a time of dread.
"Close to Diwali, it's a familiar feeling of dread every year. My chest starts feeling heavy, I start hyperventilating and I know that the white haze outside will start bothering me," says Divya, a fitness expert - and an asthma patient.
The 'white haze' she is talking about is obviously the cracker smoke. Escalating pollution levels in Delhi make it next to impossible for her to enjoy the festival, without panicking about her health. "Earlier, we suffered more because there were fewer medicines. With better medication these days, we cope better." she adds.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the pollution count on Diwali - measured in Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) - has increased over the years:
- 2005 RSPM count: 337-552 micrograms per cubic metre
- 2008 RSPM count: 578-931 micrograms per cubic metre
- Standard count: 100 micrograms per cubic metre
"The overall air quality has suffered greatly. If we look at nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, the numbers have almost doubled over the years. The after effects of Diwali pollution can be felt for at least a week. The impact on health and environment is serious," warns Vivek Chattopadhyaya of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
The Central Pollution Control Board has issued guidelines, restricting citizens and directing cracker manufacturers to go green. But authorities say it is the citizens who are the main stakeholders in making the celebrations safer and healthier.
