NEW DELHI — For many in New Delhi, one of the world’s most polluted cities, Lodhi Garden is an escape in the heart of India’s capital. Park regulars say they won’t let rising pollution levels deter them — even if they have to tweak their routine because of the smog.
The park is one of hundreds dotting the city. Those who love it say what makes it special is a combination of nature and other visitors — you’re never lonely even when you’re alone.
For others, it’s the nostalgia for bygone times. Generations of the same family have walked the trail circling the park — a habit passed down, a habit that becomes tradition.
On any given day, retired bureaucrats walk in groups, discussing politics. Yoga practitioners meet for their dose of wellness and an aspiring marathon runner whizzes by. Young couples look for privacy behind trees while those more senior openly hold hands. On weekends, the park’s lawns spill over with picnickers.
But as a toxic blanket of smog engulfed the city this month and New Delhi’s air quality officially fell into the “severe” category, some of the park regulars shared how this has impacted their daily routine.
For over 20 years, Rajiv Sikri, 76, and Subodh Jain, 72, have been meeting in Lodhi Garden for a morning walk that kicks off their day.
“The pollution is worrying but how do you insulate yourself at home?” Sikri said. “We like to walk. One round or a little more than a round.”
They “chat and solve the world’s problems,” he jokes.
“What is the option,” Jain asks. “You can’t just sit at home and do nothing.”
Rajiv Gupta, 54, and his wife, Manisha Gupta, 50, say they have considered moving out of New Delhi, home to more than 33 million people.
Regulars for 15 years, the couple says the park has lost some of its “magnetic power” because of the pollution — Rajiv says they’ve had scratchy throats and breathing problems.
“We come in the morning for fresh air and we are unable to get fresh air,” he said. “What’s the charm of coming to such a beautiful park then?”
For Manisha, “seeing people of all ages being so active … encourages me to be like them.” But she worries about their children and doesn’t know “how to keep them safe from the pollution.”
The park has been part of 60-year-old Bashir Ahmad Mir’s daily two-hour run and exercise routine for the past 10 years. But the carpet seller who moved to New Delhi from Kashmir says the pollution is now affecting his eyes.
“I…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at ABC News: International…