Millions of Indians set a new world record celebrating Diwali as worries about air pollution rise | AP News
Millions of Indians celebrated Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, setting a Guinness World Record with over 2.22 million earthen oil lamps at the Saryu River in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The event, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, involved 24,000 volunteers and earned the state’s top official, Yogi Adityanath, a record certificate. Despite the festive atmosphere, concerns about air pollution in India, exacerbated by last week’s hazardous air quality levels, loomed large. Unexpected rain and wind improved levels temporarily to 220 on the air quality index, but pollution is expected to spike again post-celebrations due to firework usage.
The Diwali celebrations coincided with efforts to combat pollution, including school closures and restrictions on polluting activities in New Delhi. Some Indian states have banned firework sales and promoted “green crackers” to reduce pollution, although compliance has historically been a challenge. Additionally, the festivities preceded the inauguration of a long-awaited temple for the Hindu god Ram at the site of the demolished Babri mosque in Ayodhya, adding a historical and cultural context to this year’s Diwali celebration
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