Folks watch a laser present on the banks of the river Sarayu throughout Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of the Hindu pageant of Diwali in Ayodhya on Wednesday. The five-day pageant celebrates the victory of sunshine over darkness.
Sanjay Kanojia/AFP through Getty Pictures
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Sanjay Kanojia/AFP through Getty Pictures
Folks watch a laser present on the banks of the river Sarayu throughout Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of the Hindu pageant of Diwali in Ayodhya on Wednesday. The five-day pageant celebrates the victory of sunshine over darkness.
Sanjay Kanojia/AFP through Getty Pictures
Hindus the world over are celebrating Diwali. The five-day pageant of lights is without doubt one of the hottest holidays in India, and Thursday is the primary day of festivities, when the trustworthy pray to the Hindu goddess of wealth.
Folks have a good time Diwali by lighting little earthen oil lamps to mark the victory of sunshine over darkness.
What the vacation signifies
Diwali, or Deepawali, will get its identify from the Sanskrit phrase deepavali, which suggests “row of clay lamps.” Many individuals in India will gentle these lamps exterior their properties to represent the internal gentle that protects them from religious darkness, in tune with a vacation that’s an ode to the triumph of fine over evil.
Hindu celebrations heart on the return of Rama and Sita, two deities, to Ayodhya, an historic metropolis in India, after being exiled. Sikhs, Jains and even Buddhists have their very own lore surrounding the vacation — you possibly can examine it here.
Folks gentle oil lamps on the eve of Diwali on the Akshardham Hindu temple in Gandhinagar, India, on Wednesday.
Sam Panthaky/AFP through Getty Pictures
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Sam Panthaky/AFP through Getty Pictures
Folks gentle oil lamps on the eve of Diwali on the Akshardham Hindu temple in Gandhinagar, India, on Wednesday.
Sam Panthaky/AFP through Getty Pictures
The vacation overlaps with the Hindu New Yr and in consequence is related to an opportunity to reset and begin anew.
The course of the 5 days consists of cleansing home, shopping for new furnishings and exchanging gifts with loved ones. It additionally facilities on traditions corresponding to shopping for new kitchen utensils to assist bring good fortune, in addition to different practices to draw the goodwill of spirits.
What the festivities appear to be in India
Within the northern Indian temple city of Ayodhya, authorities lit about 1,000,000 such lamps alongside the banks of a river.
Folks gentle earthen lamps on the banks of the river Sarayu throughout Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of the Hindu pageant of Diwali in Ayodhya.
Sanjay Kanojia/AFP through Getty Pictures
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Sanjay Kanojia/AFP through Getty Pictures
Folks gentle earthen lamps on the banks of the river Sarayu throughout Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of the Hindu pageant of Diwali in Ayodhya.
Sanjay Kanojia/AFP through Getty Pictures
Ayodhya is believed to be the birthplace of the Hindu god Lord Ram, and Diwali is alleged to be the day he returned dwelling after defeating a demon.
Throughout India, celebrations embrace fireworks and devotional music.
Laborers transport an idol of the Hindu goddess Kali to a spot of worship on the eve of Diwali at Kumortuli, the standard potters’ quarter in northern Kolkata, on Wednesday.
Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP through Getty Pictures
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Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP through Getty Pictures
Laborers transport an idol of the Hindu goddess Kali to a spot of worship on the eve of Diwali at Kumortuli, the standard potters’ quarter in northern Kolkata, on Wednesday.
Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP through Getty Pictures
However amid the festivities, there are additionally issues about air air pollution attributable to Diwali firecrackers.
Already, air pollution within the capital, New Delhi, has risen to its worst this season.
Guests stroll alongside the Raisina Hills at Rajpath amid smoggy circumstances in New Delhi on Thursday.
Sajjad Hussain/AFP through Getty Pictures
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Sajjad Hussain/AFP through Getty Pictures
Guests stroll alongside the Raisina Hills at Rajpath amid smoggy circumstances in New Delhi on Thursday.
Sajjad Hussain/AFP through Getty Pictures
Greater than 1 billion Hindus observe Diwali worldwide. NPR’s Sushmita Pathak and Michael Zamora offered this video report:
Sushmita Pathak reported from Mumbai; Manuela López Restrepo is predicated in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Separate variations of this story appeared on the Morning Edition live blog.
