India's Supreme Court has banned the sale of firecrackers in and around the capital, New Delhi, ahead of this year's Diwali celebrations, a traditional Indian festival that begins on October 19th. The ban will be in force through October 31st. The Supreme Court said the ruling aims to reduce air pollution, saying the city was smogged after last year's Diwali celebrations. The ban does not include lighting firecrackers, however, which means that people can still set off firecrackers that they bought last year.