Monday, Nov 12, 2007
| Fireworks Blitz During Diwali Leaves Delhi Air Unfit to Breathe
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 Sambhavna Seth on Diwali. Photo Credit: IANS People with respiratory problems found it tough to breathe Delhi's heavily polluted air a day after the celebration of Diwali, a hugely popular festival of lights.
On Saturday, Nov 10, the capital's streets bore testimony to the firecracker mania of the night before. Streets and by-lanes were littered with scraps of burst crackers.
Numerous campaigns to wean people away from bursting crackers on Diwali fell flat as people burst crackers with gusto.
"Yesterday, people celebrated Diwali. Children enjoyed crackers and our house was full of smoke. There was some problem in the night, people were coughing and there was some breathing problem as well, said Radha Sharma, a local.
Candles and lamps were lit in homes and crackers were burst to celebrate the ancient folklore of the return of the warrior king Lord Rama after his victory over the demon king Ravana.
While it's time to celebrate, environmentalists raise concerns, as there is a dramatic increase in pollution levels, posing severe health hazards
Legend has it that millions of lamps were lit when Lord Rama returned after 14 years of self-exile. Diwali is also celebrated in honour of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity.
It is believed that Lakshmi enters only those homes that are clean and well lit. Preparations begin many days before the festival. Houses are whitewashed, new clothes are stitched and sweets and dry- fruits gifted to relatives and friends. (ANI)
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