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The festival of lights, Diwali (or Deepavali in Sanskrit), literally means "a series of rays of light." Lasting five days, it is the largest festival in India, celebrating the victory of good over evil and darkness. According to the Vedas, India was once the kingdom of Ayodhya. Sita, the wife of King Rama, was abducted by the demon king Ravan. Rama, along with the monkey god Hanuman, defeated Ravan and rescued Sita from his clutches. When the couple returned to their kingdom, the people celebrated Diwali to welcome them.
From a spiritual perspective, Diwali is a festival dedicated to the mind. It's a time for introspection, reflection, and dispelling darkness, allowing the light of awakening to shine within each thought and reflect in good actions. The Indian festival of Diwali is considered as important as the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.
Hindu refugees in Pakistan light candles to celebrate the eve of Diwali.
The Akshardham temple is beautifully decorated from the night before the Diwali festival of lights in Gandhinagar.
A worshipper wearing a face shield prays during Diwali at the Akshardham shrine.
Hindus visit the Akshardham temple.
The Diwali festival is celebrated throughout India, except for Kerala in the south. Many people say that this festival has never been celebrated in Kerala, because, considering its deeper cultural roots, the people of Kerala believe they are an autonomous kingdom and do not need to follow major festivals like Diwali. The main festival of the Kerala people is called Onam.
The potter makes earthen lamps, which are used to decorate homes and temples during Diwali.
A lantern vendor at a market in Mumbai.
A stall selling lanterns at a market in Mumbai.
The Diwali festival is based on the Hindu lunar calendar and takes place around October or November in the Gregorian calendar, depending on the lunar cycle. In 2020, Diwali will begin on October 14th and end on October 18th. The main celebration takes place on Monday, October 16th. Diwali will be celebrated one day earlier in South India, on October 15th.
A tea house is welcoming customers in Noida, a suburb of New Delhi, during Diwali.
Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the scale of this year's festival had to be scaled down, including the absence of fireworks. In Ayodhya city, a Guinness record was set for the second consecutive year when more than 584,000 oil lamps were lit along the Saryu River, through the streets, and at houses.
