Diwali (Deepavali) is the festival of light and is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India every year. Bursting crackers is the most prominent activity of Diwali. These firecrackers when burnt releases various gaseous and particulate air pollutants and toxic metals to significant quantity and degrades the air quality as a whole. The present study deals with the impact of bursting crackers and fireworks on the ambient air quality of Jhansi city during Diwali festival in Nov 2013. In the present study, SO2, NO2, RSPM and SPM were estimated at residential and commercial site during the day and night times for pre-Diwali, Diwali and post-Diwali i.e. from 1-5th Nov 2013. On Diwali, the level of SO2, NO2 and RSPM and SPM values were found in commercial and residential area to be 32.12, 60.26, 387.37 and 723.24 μg/m3 and in residential area to be 28.30, 52.69, 312.51, 618.31 μg/m3 respectively, which were very high when compared with any normal day of commercial area (7.18, 21.08, 126 and 257.21 μg/m3 respectively) and in residential area (6.28, 17.10, 107 and 214.67 μg/m3 respectively). On Diwali and after Diwali, the values of SO2, NO2 within range but RSPM and SPM were found to be much higher than the standard value of NAAQS. Hence, in the present study, crackers and fireworks were found to be the chief sources of air pollution during the Diwali festival. Even though the impact of Diwali is short term, but the short term exposure of these pollutants above the standard values causes health complicatio
