Every Diwali, Delhi and other northern cities face a spike in air pollution. This year, as the clock struck midnight, firecrackers lit up the night sky while the air turned thick with smoke. Residents with asthma, chronic respiratory issues, or even healthy lungs struggled to breathe. Despite Supreme Court orders limiting firecracker use, enforcement remains weak, leaving citizens to face the consequences of festivity at a cost to public health. The debate has often framed banning crackers as “anti-Hindu,” but the real threat is the polluted air that affects everyone equally.
The Supreme Court had initially imposed restrictions on bursting firecrackers to reduce air pollution. However, a recent bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai lifted the blanket ban. This move raised questions about balancing religious freedom with public health. Critics argue that the approval of so-called “green crackers” was more symbolic than practical. Enforcement of even limited firecracker use requires political will, strict policing, and citizen compliance—factors largely missing in Delhi. Meanwhile, the city government’s alignment with pro-cracker lobbying has added to the problem, prioritizing political popularity over cleaner air.
The Delhi government, led by the BJP, returned to power earlier this year and made it a priority to allow unrestricted firecracker use. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta framed the celebration as a cultural tradition, ignoring health concerns. During elections, political parties often accuse opponents of being “anti-Hindu” if they advocate for restricting crackers, creating a dangerous mix of populism and religion. This narrative has diverted attention from the public health crisis.
Historically, firecrackers were never central to Diwali. The festival is traditionally about lighting diyas and lamps, symbolizing light over darkness. The growth of the firecracker industry over the past decades has turned Diwali into a noisy, polluting spectacle driven by commercial and political interests. Politicians, seeking to appeal to voters, now treat cracker usage as a matter of religious identity, while citizens’ right to breathe clean air takes a backseat.
Enforcing court orders without political support is nearly impossible. Police are overworked, and most citizens do not follow rules voluntarily. Even if a few violators are penalized, widespread compliance remains unlikely. The Supreme Court and Delhi government expect constables to distinguish between legal and banned crackers and to fine violators, yet without political backing and citizen awareness, enforcement remains largely symbolic.
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Public participation is critical for pollution control. Awareness campaigns in schools, offices, and media could gradually change behavior, but the perception that bursting crackers is a “fundamental religious right” complicates compliance. Concerned citizens are often branded “anti-Hindu” for raising health concerns, discouraging active engagement in pollution reduction.
Hindu dharma itself encourages environmental respect. Concepts of revering rivers, trees, and nature emphasize sustainability and protection of the environment. Demanding clean air aligns with these principles, making ecological awareness a dharmic duty, not a political statement. Pollution affects all, regardless of income, religion, or social status, and solving it requires proactive government measures. Tackling air pollution demands a year-round strategy addressing stubble burning, industrial emissions, and firecrackers alike.
Without strong governance and citizen cooperation, Delhi remains trapped in an annual cycle of choking air during Diwali. Politicians deflect responsibility, blaming other states or previous administrations, while ordinary residents bear the health consequences. The solution is not to frame public health measures as anti-religious, but to treat clean air as a shared right and responsibility. Only then can Diwali be celebrated with joy without compromising the health of millions.
The lesson is clear: banning crackers is not an attack on culture or religion. Allowing polluted air to persist, however, endangers every citizen. Political expediency should not outweigh public health, and it is time for both government and people to embrace this responsibility seriously. A Viksit Bharat cannot be built with millions suffocating under toxic air each festive season.
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