The Smoke Is Not Just Atmosphere
The effigy fire at a large Ramlila ground can release particulate matter at levels comparable to a moderate industrial event. Burning bamboo, cloth, paper mache, and chemical-based paints produce fine particles, PM2.5 and coarser PM10, that travel deep into the lungs. People with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or any history of bronchospasm are at measurable risk even at a distance from the fire. The Central Pollution Control Board has documented post-Dussehra air quality dips in Delhi that persist for several hours after the main burning. Standing downwind for ninety minutes is a genuine exposure event, not a nuisance. Wearing an N95 mask, not a cloth mask, cuts fine-particle inhalation significantly. If you are managing a respiratory condition, position yourself upwind and leave before the main fire is lit.
