1,300 AQI, shut windows and no celebrations. The unhappy Diwali of many Delhiites

We are not talking about the ones who couldn't go home this festive season. This one is for the ones who were home in Delhi-NCR, all dressed up and decked up yet it felt "un-festive".Despite the severe pollution, people in Delhi-NCR burst crackers (Photo: AFP)New Delhi,Nov 9, 2026 17:10 ISTWe should probably thank our stars that the air quality the morning after Diwali was not as bad as it had been on the night of the festival. Otherwise, the scene would have been straight out of that viral Rahul Gandhi meme: "Khatam, Tata, Bye-Bye" (not joking).Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 663 at 8:01 am, after touching a peak of 1,331 at 1:31 am, according to AQI.in data. That's hardly the kind of air anyone should have to breathe, particularly children with respiratory problems, the elderly and, worse, terminally ill patients.Diwali, which should have been a day for families to celebrate together, regardless of age, became a day of restrictions for many. Festivals are meant to be inclusive, but this Diwali, much like the ones over the past few years, that spirit took a back seat. And those who bore the brunt were the most vulnerable among us. At least, that was the case in multiple Delhi household. Delhi-NCR engulfed in pollution (Photo: AFP) For them, pollution didn't just dampen the festive spirit. It dictated how, or whether, they could celebrate at all.Pollution wali Diwali "Mumma, can we just light up two phuljaris?" is what Reyansh asked me in the evening yesterday with a puppy face. How do you say no to that," shares Kamini Gangal, a 35-year-old mother from Noida. Her 12-year-old son has asthma, and while they usually leave the city during this time to avoid pollution for a bit, this year they had no choice but to stay."It aches my heart to see him look out of the window, watching the fireworks light up the sky. He knows he can't go, he knows his friends are out there, but we cannot risk his health for 15–20 minutes of fun," she adds. For the Gangals, Diwali is all things festive until their son is reminded of what he is missing out on. And it wasn't always like this. "It's the constantly poor AQI that has led us to take this step. And he is already wheezing," Kamini says.For some, something as simple as stepping out to light a diya has become a health concern. "My mother doesn't even step out of her room onto the balcony to light diyas," says Manya Chawla, whose mother has asthma too.And for families caring for elderly or bedridden relatives, even a few minutes of festive cheer can be difficult to manage."We took my grandmother downstairs in a wheelchair so that she could at least enjoy the Diwali lights. It was okay initially, but the moment we reached near the society gate, which was the designated spot for bursting crackers, everything turned smoky. It was so bad that we had to turn her wheelchair around and bring her home within five minutes," Divya Singh tells India Today.Singh's grandmother is bedridden and has dementia. "Because of the pollution, we don't even open the balcony doors for ventilation anymore. But it was Diwali, and for someone who is confined to the four walls of a room, we just wanted her to feel a little joy of the season. Alas, we couldn't manage even five minutes," she says.Imagine having to cut short a five-minute outing because the air outside is too polluted to breathe comfortably.And sometimes, even staying indoors doesn't bring much relief."My father is undergoing chemotherapy, so his immunity is already compromised. This Diwali, we were just trying to keep the air inside our house as breathable as possible. We had the air purifier running continuously, with the windows shut, but on Diwali night, its air-quality indicator went up to 999 Even when we switched it to the highest fan speed, the reading wasn't coming down as quickly as it usually does," Shweta Mishra, a resident of Malviya Nagar, tells India Today.And these are just a few of the many stories from households this festive season.On social media, too, amid the pictures of beautifully decorated homes, festive outfits and fireworks, there were people sharing a very different side of Diwali — one of breathing difficulties, closed windows and celebrations cut short.These are just a handful of stories from a city where celebrations have taken a back seat for many, not for lack of loved ones to celebrate with or the comfort of a home, but because the air outside has made even the simplest festive joys feel out of reach.For some families in Delhi-NCR, the festival of lights has quietly become a festival of closed doors and windows. And perhaps that's the saddest part.- Ends