Indian festival of lights

Dangerous fog over New Delhi after celebrations

Thick fog covers the Indian capital New Delhi after millions of people celebrated the Hindu festival of Diwali, reports the AP. Fireworks during the celebration have caused air pollution to soar to dangerous levels.

On Tuesday morning, the city's air quality index had risen above a level considered severe and dangerous to breathe, according to the World Health Organization's recommended daily maximum exposure. Visibility was also reduced in some parts of the city due to the thick fog.

Millions of Indians celebrated the Hindu festival of Diwali on Sunday night and Monday, which symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.

Diwali celebrated in India - millions of lights lit

Millions of Indians celebrated Diwali on Monday night. The Hindu festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and lamps lit up streets and homes across India, reports the AP.

The city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state is celebrating with extra fervor as Hinduism says the god Rama was born there and returned after 14 years in exile. People lit oil lamps to mark his return, and by dusk on Sunday, more than 2.6 million lamps had been lit on the banks of the Saryu River in the city.

In recent years, Diwali celebrations in New Delhi have been overshadowed by concerns about air pollution, as fireworks during the celebrations cause toxic smog.