Similar to the Fourth of July, fireworks light up the night sky on Diwali, marking the date of Lord Rama’s return to the kingdom of Ayodhya after serving a 14-year exile. And, like the Fourth of July, the fireworks leave a lasting impact on the environment. The degradation of air quality in New Delhi is much worse than in Los Angeles, but should serve as a warning against taking the environmental impact of fireworks — and air pollution, in general — too lightly. AdvertisementNew Delhi battles an air pollution crisis year-round, and measured an average Air Quality Index of 209 last year. My purpose for writing this essay is to share my sadness at watching the air in beautiful New Delhi deteriorate.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 05, 2023 14:43 UTC