New Delhi was blanketed by hazy smog Monday after a weekend of Diwali celebrations.
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Air quality index monitors reported hazardous levels of pollution, posing significant health risks to nearly all individuals.
READ MORE: What is Diwali, the Festival of Lights, and how is it celebrated?
The Delhi region typically experiences worsening air quality in autumn, as cooler weather and lower wind speeds trap pollutants — especially vehicle fumes — closer to the ground. Smoke from farmers in neighboring states who burn fields in advance of the planting season also contributes to poor air quality.
More than a billion people across faiths in India celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, which symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness. It’s a major religious celebration for Hindus, but is also observed by Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. Diwali traditions typically include lights, fireworks, feasting, new clothes and prayers.
The sale and use of fireworks and firecrackers in Delhi is typically illegal, but in October, India’s Supreme Court ruled that so-called “green firecrackers” could be set off in limited three-hour windows over the holiday weekend.
