Diwali fireworks are not the main culprit of air pollution in Delhi

Many foreign reporters based in India actually flee the city for the festive season, relocating to major cities outside north India like Bangalore for a breath of fresh air – literally

Fireworks explode in the sky above the city on Sunday (Reuters)

Delhi may have banned Diwali fireworks back in 2018, but the night sky exploded with colour once again on Sunday for the Hindu festival of lights.

The news cycle around Diwali in the Indian capital follows a now-familiar pattern – there are dire warnings about the inevitable impact on air pollution of all the fireworks, then plenty of outraged posts on social media when families invariably flout the rules.

Many foreign reporters based in India actually flee the city for the festive season, relocating to major cities outside north India like Bangalore for a breath of fresh air – literally.