Diwali 2021 preparations across India – in pictures

An Indian clay artist, Sujata Chitrakar, works with an idol of the goddess Kali ahead of Diwali in Kolkata. EPA
An Indian clay artist, Sujata Chitrakar, works with an idol of the goddess Kali ahead of Diwali in Kolkata. EPA
An artist gives the final touches to an idol of Kali, the Hindu goddess of power, in Siliguri, West Bengal. AFP
An artist gives the final touches to an idol of Kali, the Hindu goddess of power, in Siliguri, West Bengal. AFP
Members of the Just Sewa Society distribute lamps and grocery items to people in need during an event ahead of Diwali, in Amritsar. AFP
Members of the Just Sewa Society distribute lamps and grocery items to people in need during an event ahead of Diwali, in Amritsar. AFP
An Indian clay artist works with idols of the goddess Kali in Kolkata. EPA
An Indian clay artist works with idols of the goddess Kali in Kolkata. EPA
A street vendor applies dye to earthen pots to be used as decorative items, in Hyderabad. AFP
A street vendor applies dye to earthen pots to be used as decorative items, in Hyderabad. AFP
People shop at a crowded market in New Delhi. Reuters
People shop at a crowded market in New Delhi. Reuters
People shop for paper lanterns and other decorative items in Mumbai. AFP
People shop for paper lanterns and other decorative items in Mumbai. AFP
A vendor selling firecrackers in Allahabad. AFP
A vendor selling firecrackers in Allahabad. AFP
A street vendor sells decorative items at a market in New Delhi. AFP
A street vendor sells decorative items at a market in New Delhi. AFP
A street vendor dyes earthen lamps in New Delhi. AFP
A street vendor dyes earthen lamps in New Delhi. AFP
Shoppers buy decorative items in New Delhi. AFP
Shoppers buy decorative items in New Delhi. AFP
People hold placards to raise awareness on air pollution caused by firecrackers, in Siliguri. AFP
People hold placards to raise awareness on air pollution caused by firecrackers, in Siliguri. AFP
People buy decorative items at a market in Amritsar. AFP
People buy decorative items at a market in Amritsar. AFP
A shopkeeper hangs artificial flower garlands in Amritsar. AFP
A shopkeeper hangs artificial flower garlands in Amritsar. AFP
Flower garlands at a shop in New Delhi. AFP
Flower garlands at a shop in New Delhi. AFP
A vendor carries a bunch of roses at a flower market in New Delhi. AFP
A vendor carries a bunch of roses at a flower market in New Delhi. AFP
A woman makes garlands in New Delhi. AFP
A woman makes garlands in New Delhi. AFP
Shoppers in Chennai. EPA
Shoppers in Chennai. EPA
An artist gives finishing touches to an idol of Lakshmi in Kolkata. AP
An artist gives finishing touches to an idol of Lakshmi in Kolkata. AP
People buy flowers, fruits and essentials at a city market in Bengaluru. EPA
People buy flowers, fruits and essentials at a city market in Bengaluru. EPA
A shop selling earthen lamps in Bengaluru. EPA
A shop selling earthen lamps in Bengaluru. EPA
A worker hangs decoration items in Amritsar. AFP
A worker hangs decoration items in Amritsar. AFP
An artisan paints a statue of Lakshmi on the outskirts of Hyderabad. AFP
An artisan paints a statue of Lakshmi on the outskirts of Hyderabad. AFP
A young artisan at work in Hyderabad. AFP
A young artisan at work in Hyderabad. AFP
A vendor arranges decorative lights at a market in New Delhi. AFP
A vendor arranges decorative lights at a market in New Delhi. AFP
A worker arranges artificial flowers in Amritsar. AFP
A worker arranges artificial flowers in Amritsar. AFP
A potter loads dried clay earthen lamps into a furnace in Allahabad. AFP
A potter loads dried clay earthen lamps into a furnace in Allahabad. AFP
A craftsman paints earthen lamps in Amritsar. AFP
A craftsman paints earthen lamps in Amritsar. AFP
A visually impaired youth makes candles to be sold for Diwali in New Delhi. AFP
A visually impaired youth makes candles to be sold for Diwali in New Delhi. AFP
An artisan works on an idol of the goddess Kali on the outskirts of Hyderabad. AFP
An artisan works on an idol of the goddess Kali on the outskirts of Hyderabad. AFP
Customers visit a shop selling decorative electric lights in Kolkata. EPA
Customers visit a shop selling decorative electric lights in Kolkata. EPA
Potters make diyas or earthen oil lamps in New Delhi. AFP
Potters make diyas or earthen oil lamps in New Delhi. AFP
A worker makes candles in Ahmedabad. AFP
A worker makes candles in Ahmedabad. AFP
A worker at a candle making shop in Ahmedabad. AFP
A worker at a candle making shop in Ahmedabad. AFP
A woman at a flower shop on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. AFP
A woman at a flower shop on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. AFP
Women work inside an artifical flower shop in Ahmedabad. AFP
Women work inside an artifical flower shop in Ahmedabad. AFP
Workers make firecrackers at a workshop in Ahmedabad. AFP
Workers make firecrackers at a workshop in Ahmedabad. AFP
Girls prepare wax-filled earthen lamps ahead of Diwali, at a centre for visually challenged girls in Ahmedabad. AFP
Girls prepare wax-filled earthen lamps ahead of Diwali, at a centre for visually challenged girls in Ahmedabad. AFP