Lanterns, candles and fairy lights return to the city yet again with a question that divides the residents will the smoke season make a comeback too? Somewhere between joy and judgement over the right to celebrate the festival of lights, the city battles worsening smog, fading sentiments and cultural nostalgia.

After five years of bans and bitter debates, the Supreme Court has fuelled a spark allowing the use of “green” firecrackers under strict rules, short time slots, and the promise of environmental safety that only a few believe will hold With the air quality index (AQI) index hitting a new high every day, the decision lands when the city is already gasping for breath.

The horizon blurs into a pale grey, and the familiar metallic tang of winter pollution hangs thick in the air, yet t

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