Diwali (or Deepavali in Sanskrit) literally means “a string of rays of light”, lasts for five days and is the biggest festival in India, celebrating the victory of good over evil and darkness. According to the Vedas, this India was once the kingdom of Ayodhya. Sita, wife of King Rama, was kidnapped by the demon king Ravan. Rama and the monkey god Hanuman defeated Ravan and rescued Sita from the clutches of evil. When the couple returned to the kingdom, the people celebrated Diwali together to welcome them.
In terms of spirituality, Diwali is one of the occasions dedicated to the mind. This is the time for people to turn inward, to reflect and dispel the darkness, to let the light of awareness shine within each thought and reflect through good deeds. The Indian Diwali festival is also considered as important as the traditional New Year of the Vietnamese people.
Hindu refugees in Pakistan light candles to celebrate on the eve of Diwali
Akshardham temple is decorated lavishly from the eve of Diwali festival of lights in Gandhinagar
A devotee wearing a face shield prays during Diwali at Akshardham temple
Hindus visit Akshardham temple
Diwali is celebrated in all parts of India except Kerala, in the southern region. Many people say that this festival has never been celebrated in Kerala, going deeper into the culture and origin, the people of Kerala believe that they are an autonomous kingdom and do not need to follow big festivals like Diwali. The main festival of Kerala is called Onam.
A potter makes earthen lamps, which are used to decorate homes and temples during Diwali.
A lantern seller at a market in Mumbai
Lantern stall at a market in Mumbai
Diwali is a festival based on the Hindu lunar calendar and falls in October or November, depending on the phase of the moon. In 2020, Diwali will begin on October 14 and end on October 18. The main celebrations will take place on Monday, October 16. Diwali will be celebrated a day early in South India on October 15.
A tea shop welcomes customers in Noida, on the outskirts of New Delhi, during Diwali.
Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the scale of this year's festival was forced to be scaled down as there was no fireworks display. In the city of Ayodhya, a Guinness World Record was set for the second consecutive year when more than 584,000 oil lamps were lit along the banks of the Saryu River, through the streets and in houses.
