Diwali: India sparkles as millions celebrate the festival of lights

Known as the festival of lights, Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil.

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Lamps and firecrackers light up homes and streets during the festival, also observed by Sikhs and Jains, but they also worsen air pollution - a problem especially pronounced in northern India, where winter already brings poor air quality.

This year, the Supreme Court has permitted the sale and use of "green crackers" in the capital, Delhi, to help curb air pollution, ending a ban on crackers that has been in place since 2020.

"Green crackers" claim to emit 20–30% less pollution than traditional firecrackers, but critics doubt their actual effectiveness in protecting the environment.

In recent years, several states have restricted or banned firecrackers to combat rising air pollution, but the rules are often flouted, further worsening air quality in the days after Diwali.