‘Put curtains, do kapalbhati’: Ramdev calls air purifiers ‘ameeron ka chonchla’ as Delhi-NCR chokes

Speaking on a television programme, Ramdev promoted yoga, breathing techniques and simple household measures as responses to worsening pollution.

As toxic smog smothered Delhi-NCR and air quality plunged into the ‘severe’ zone, yoga guru Ramdev, on Friday, dismissed air purifiers as “ameeron ka chonchla”, a luxury of the wealthy, drawing attention with remarks that ran counter to public health advisories.

Speaking on a television programme, Ramdev promoted yoga, breathing techniques and simple household measures as responses to worsening pollution.

His comments come as authorities enforced the strictest stages of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to contain emissions amid rapidly deteriorating air quality.

When asked how people could exercise outdoors in such hazardous conditions, Ramdev said in Hindi that “dust is inevitable when a nation progresses.” He acknowledged Delhi’s recurring pollution crisis, describing periods when the capital “turns into a gas chamber,” and suggested residents hang curtains indoors to block dust.

He expanded on the idea by advising people to clean their curtains every few weeks while wearing masks, and to stay indoors to practise breathing exercises.

“Sit inside, take long breaths and do Kapalbhati,” he said, reiterating that air purifiers were unnecessary and largely an extravagance.

Meanwhile, national capital Delhi recorded an AQI of 462 at 6 am on Sunday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), firmly placing the city in the ‘severe’ category. All 40 air quality monitoring stations in the capital registered ‘red’ readings. Rohini reported the worst air quality with an AQI of 499, followed by Jahangirpuri and Vivek Vihar at 495.

Air conditions worsened dramatically over the weekend across Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and other NCR areas, with several locations nearing the AQI ceiling of 500. The sharp spike prompted authorities to swiftly activate Stage 3 and Stage 4 curbs under GRAP, restricting construction activity, vehicular movement and other major pollution sources.