Hundreds of millions of Indians are celebrating Diwali on Monday with earthen oil lamps, colourful floor decorations and bright lights.
The Hindu festival symbolises the victory of light over darkness and the return home of Lord Ram, his wife Sita and brother Laxman after 14 years in exile, after killing the 10-headed demon king Ravana who had abducted Sita.
The festival is celebrated across regions and religions in India with much pomp and fervour. Houses, shops, and marketplaces were decked with dazzling lights and people wore new, vibrant clothes.
In the evening, they worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity and Ganesha, the elephant god of wisdom.
The celebrations were dampened by the Covid-19 pandemic for the last two years but have returned now that cases are ebbing.
Markets were abuzz with eager customers buying lanterns, flowers, lights, candles and decorative items. Huge crowds also gathered at electronic and sweet shops.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the festival with soldiers in Kargil in the Himalayan Ladakh region.
Over 1.5 million earthen lamps were lit and kept burning for 45 minutes at Ram Ki Paidi in Ayodhya — the birthplace of Lord Ram in northern Uttar Pradesh state — on Sunday, setting a Guinness World Record.
The celebrations are also sparking concerns about air pollution in parts of the country, including in the capital Delhi where authorities have banned fireworks.
In previous years, major firework displays have been blamed for worsening the air quality as low wind speeds mean the pollutants are trapped in the lower atmosphere.
Hindus have been celebrating Diwali by lighting earthen lamps and candles for centuries.
But the use of firecrackers on Diwali was introduced in the 18th century when Maratha Empire rulers organised displays — 400 years after they were first brought to the country from China.
Several state governments have banned firecrackers and warned residents that flouting the ban will attract jail terms of six months.
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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 -
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 -
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 for paper lanterns and other decorative items in Mumbai. AFP -
A vendor selling firecrackers in Allahabad. AFP -
A street vendor sells decorative items at a market in New Delhi. AFP -
A street vendor dyes earthen lamps 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 buy decorative items at a market in Amritsar. AFP -
A shopkeeper hangs artificial flower garlands in Amritsar. 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 woman makes garlands in New Delhi. AFP -
Shoppers in Chennai. EPA -
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 -
A shop selling earthen lamps in Bengaluru. EPA -
A worker hangs decoration items in Amritsar. AFP -
An artisan paints a statue of Lakshmi on the outskirts of Hyderabad. AFP -
A young artisan at work in Hyderabad. AFP -
A vendor arranges decorative lights at a market in New Delhi. AFP -
A worker arranges artificial flowers in Amritsar. AFP -
A potter loads dried clay earthen lamps into a furnace in Allahabad. AFP -
A craftsman paints earthen lamps in Amritsar. 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 -
Customers visit a shop selling decorative electric lights in Kolkata. EPA -
Potters make diyas or earthen oil lamps in New Delhi. AFP -
A worker makes candles 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 -
Women work inside an artifical flower shop 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
