On Friday, November 1, the air quality in Delhi deteriorated to the "very poor" category, reaching a level of 362, as reported by SAFAR India. This was worse than in 2022 when the Air Quality Index (AQI) was around 312. AQI levels worsened in many Indian cities, including Mumbai and four major cities in Madhya Pradesh. In Indore, the AQI reached 183—the highest this Diwali—followed by Bhopal, Gwalior, and Jabalpur. According to media reports, Indore generated over 500 tons of extra waste in one day, mostly from firecracker debris.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee announced a complete ban on the manufacture, sale, storage, and use of firecrackers in the city until January 1, 2025. Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal urged Delhi residents not to burst crackers, stating, "This is a festival of lights, not fireworks. Whatever pollution happens, it's our children who will suffer from it, so there is no Hindu-Muslim in this—everyone's life is important." However, many did not heed appeals from political leaders, social activists, and environmentalists.

Why did so many in Delhi not avoid an activity that endangers health and life? The answer lies in vote-bank politics and the politicisation of religion. The Delhi BJP opposed the ban, accusing Kejriwal of disregarding the sentiments of Delhi residents. According to an editorial in the Free Press on November 2, "the Hindu right-wing groups turned rebellious and burst more crackers."

Firecrackers have become costly, and those who use them in large quantities are typically the wealthy and middle class. These people live in air-conditioned buildings and travel by AC vehicles, making them less impacted by air pollution than the general public. Their actions stem not from ignorance of the harm caused by firecrackers but from religious majoritarian arrogance and disregard for public welfare.

In her Diwali message, President Murmu emphasised that Diwali symbolises the victory of knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. Given Delhi's poor air quality, she could have urged people not to burst crackers. Many educated people burst crackers not out of a lack of awareness but due to a lack of compassion. Without empathy, religion can become poisonous.

Religious festivals are indeed occasions for celebration, but they also offer spiritual messages aimed at enhancing the quality of life and societal harmony. Unfortunately, in India, festivals often trigger communal tensions, with religious processions becoming displays of strength and competitive religiosity rather than fostering spiritual growth. A new book, Weaponization of Hindu Festivals, by Irfan Engineer and Neha Dabhade, highlights how religious processions on various festival occasions have escalated into communal riots.

The authors note that Hindu nationalist groups often organise their own processions or take over traditional ones, particularly targeting Muslim-dominated areas, sometimes deviating from permitted routes, carrying weapons, playing loud music near mosques, and extending their displays into times of Muslim prayer. These processions are often prepared to respond violently to any objections.

Religious events like Ram Navami, Ganesh Chaturthi, and the recently created Hanuman Jayanti are increasingly used to incite hostility against minorities, creating communal polarisation. In many instances, law enforcement is either indifferent or tacitly supports Hindutva groups.

Religion has historically been divisive, despite the founders of religions never intending it to be so. Many wars have been fought in the name of religion, such as the Crusades, which were a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims, primarily to control sacred sites. Historians believe that the motives behind the Crusades were a mixture of economic and political agendas masked behind the face of religion. Religions arose to transform individuals and societies and establish peace and harmony, but over time, political and religious leaders have misused them for personal gain. When misused, religion becomes poisonous.

Religion turns toxic when it is overtaken by fundamentalists.

Fundamentalists believe theirs is the only true or perfect religion and seek to impose it on others, even by force. They resist changes that make religion relevant to modern times and impose uniformity on all, ignoring the natural diversity of society. Islamic State (IS) terrorists, for example, impose their version of Islam at gunpoint, displaying assertive and often violent behaviour.

Fundamentalists across religions tend to focus heavily on controlling sexual behaviour and imposing restrictions, especially on women. In Afghanistan, for example, women are denied fundamental rights, such as education beyond the sixth grade and employment. The Taliban have banned women from gyms, parks, and beauty salons and require them to cover their bodies fully and only appear in public with a male guardian.

In India, the influence of fundamentalism is growing in all major religions, with a trend toward reviving outdated traditions. Interfaith dialogue is discouraged, and in some cases, fundamentalism is also creeping into the Catholic Church in India, despite the Catholic Church globally being led by a pope who promotes interfaith relationships.

Religion becomes poisonous when used to gain and maintain political power. This phenomenon called the politicisation of religion, is evident in India, where the BJP, supported by the RSS, leveraged the Ayodhya movement to gain political power. The Ayodhya temple mobilisation was marked by communal violence, resulting in death and destruction. Since 2014, the BJP has consistently used religion to retain power, as seen in the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act. The 2024 Lok Sabha election was marked by extensive religious rhetoric from BJP leaders.

In the United States, presidential candidate Donald Trump has also appealed to religious sentiments in his campaign, accusing Kamala Harris and Joe Biden of ignoring Hindus. In one speech, Trump stated, "I strongly condemn the barbaric violence on Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are being attacked in Bangladesh...Kamala and Joe ignored Hindus across the world and in America."

Religion also becomes dangerous when it is commercialised. This occurs when religious leaders or organisations use religious sites, rituals, or objects for profit, turning pilgrimage centres into religious tourism hubs with ultra-modern amenities.

An alliance among religious fundamentalism, politicised religion, and authoritarianism is visible in some countries. This unholy alliance is present in many Islamic countries, with Iran being a prime example. India, too, seems to be moving toward this alliance.

The only way to prevent religion from becoming poisonous is through pluralism—accepting, appreciating, and celebrating diversity. The Indian Constitution fosters a culture of unity in diversity by recognising pluralism and promoting harmony across religions, cultures, and languages. This idea of harmony is part of the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Jesus Christ, who envisioned a "Kingdom of God," where God is viewed as a loving parent and all humans as equal siblings. Jesus' commandment to "love one another as I have loved you" captures this ideal.