Tomorrow it will be even worse — usually 250+ AQI. Still, this region has good airflow compared to the northern parts of India which literally go past the maximum reading on the scales — not great, not terrible — which is a result of after harvest stubble burning, firecrackers, cold weather and the entire northern region’s airflow blocked by the Himalayas.
The so called Hindus will literally call you out for being “weak” instead of deciding to not waste their money on the crackers and killing people. Delhi’s chief minister (who can’t even sign a piece of document) said that Diwali is incomplete without firecrackers before lifting the prevention measures from the previous government— which was also a failure.
Firecrackers were never even part of Diwali. The festival was about getting together, share gifts and sweets. But these radical Hindus don’t give a shit.
Update: Our Prime Minister with Delhi’s Chief Minister with air purifier while they encourage people to burst more crackers.
This sounds a lot like the, uh, friendly and polite discussion we have in Germany every year around New Year’s where people insist on their traditional, if not God-given, right to burn their money in the sky, traumatise pets, cause numerous burn injuries and extra work for medical workers, and leave the remains to pollute public spaces. At least it’s not based on any religious notions (anymore). People like their pretty lights.
But although it does have measurable impact on local air quality, that effect only lasts maybe a day, afaik. So while I see parallels in the discussion, your situation does sound worse.
We don’t have any implementation of the on-paper regulations. Too put it lightly — we don’t know what we are even breathing during this peek period.