For S Mariamar and her family, it is all they can do just to survive.

M Mythreyar is a devout Hindu but cannot ignore his feelings about the conflict in Gaza.

This will be the second year that M Mythreyar refuses to celebrate in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Delhi is the world's most polluted capital and its air becomes particularly bad from mid-December to February as heavy, cold air traps dust, vehicle emissions and smoke from burning crop stubble in states like Punjab and Haryana.

With her daughter in a wheelchair and a thousand and one things to do, Deepavali will be quiet for M Kalaichelvi but she doesn't mind.

M Kanchana was only nine years old when her health began to fail, and at 13, she is wheelchair-bound.

With one daughter confined to a wheelchair, M Kalaichelvi has her hands full just supporting her family.

PLUS says it will ensure no lane closures, maintenance work or upgrading work is carried out from Oct 21 to 25, to avoid any inconvenience to road users.

People caught setting off firecrackers will face a fine of 200 Indian rupees and jail of up to six months.

The ban will remain in force until Jan 1.

New Delhi's overall Air Quality Index stands at 456 on a scale of 500, indicating 'severe' pollution conditions that can affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases.

New Delhi has the worst air quality of all world capitals, but even by its standards Friday's reading was extra bad, as people paid the price for celebrating India's biggest festival in the noisiest, and most smoky way.