India lights up in celebration of Diwali

Festivities back to full throttle after being dampened by the pandemic for the last two years

A man and his child light candles outside his shop during Diwali celebrations in Kathmandu, Nepal. Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated by all Hindus around the world. AP

Family members play with firecrackers in Kathmandu. Diwali is known as the Tihar festival in Nepal. EPA

Children light firecrackers in Kathmandu. AP

A vendor untangles decorative lights at a shop in Kathmandu. AP

Sawantri, 40, helps her son to wave a burning sparkler during Diwali celebrations in Karachi, Pakistan. Reuters

A man lights a firecracker in Karachi. Reuters

Oil lamps are lit at a home in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to celebrate Diwali. EPA

A girl poses with a mural made out of coloured powder outside her home in Karachi. Reuters

Indians light firecrackers as they celebrate Diwali in Dubai's Bur Dubai district. AFP

Fireworks light the sky above a decorated building in Bur Dubai. AFP

Pakistani Hindus light firecrackers in Karachi. AFP

Diwali decorations at the Praveen residence in Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National

A young woman lights a firecracker as she celebrates Diwali in Karachi. AFP

A woman lights an oil lamp in Bengaluru, India. EPA

People set off firecrackers in Bengaluru. EPA

Indians light firecrackers near New Delhi. EPA

A boy prays at a Hindu temple in Sukkur, Pakistan, during Diwali. AP

People light lamps on the banks of the river Saryu in Ayodhya, India. AP

More lamps on the banks of river Sarayu in Ayodhya. AFP

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at the 'Deepotsav' event in Ayodhya. AFP

Family members of Rajasthan police personnel burn firecrackers in Ajmer, India. AFP

Mr Modi, right, inaugurates the 'Deepotsav' event as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath watches. AFP

Children watch firecrackers being lit on the eve of Diwali at an orphanage in Jammu, India. AP

People make a formation of Hindu god Lord Ram, with 3,000 earthen lamps in Chandigarh, India. AFP

People crowd at a market on the eve of Diwali in Bangalore. AFP

A customer browses jewellery at a shop ahead of Diwali in New Delhi. Bloomberg

A flower market in Bangalore. AFP

A saleswoman helps a customer try various pieces of jewellery at a shop in New Delhi. Bloomberg

People shop in Mumbai ahead of Diwali, one of Hinduism's most important festivals, dedicated to the worship of the goddess of wealth Lakshmi. AP

Shoppers buy stainless steel utensils at a marketplace in Noida, on the outskirts of New Delhi. Bloomberg

Hindus pray during Diwali at the temple in Dubai. AP

A vendor sells decorative lights ahead of Diwali in New Delhi. Indian shoppers are back in force online and in stores, splurging this festive season. Bloomberg

A customer buys Diwali lights in New Delhi. In the previous two years, the coronavirus pandemic has curtailed celebrations. Bloomberg

Dancers perform at the Indian Consulate in Dubai. AP

A vendor at a kiosk in New Delhi. Bloomberg

A woman picks marigolds, used to make garlands and offer prayers, before selling them at a market for the Tihar festival, also called Diwali, in Kathmandu, Nepal. Reuters

An Indian shopkeeper arranges earthen oil lamps for sale ahead of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, in Bangalore, India. EPA

A woman looks at decorative items and crackers offered at a market stand ahead of Diwali in Bangalore. EPA

A child wearing make-up while asking for alms from passers-by at a market area ahead of Diwali in New Delhi. AFP

A female customer takes off a gold necklace after trying it at a Senco Gold & Diamonds jewellery showroom before Diwali in Mumbai. AFP

People buy firecrackers on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali, in Amritsar. AFP

A farmer cultivates lotus flowers in a reservoir in Bhopal ahead of Diwali. AFP

A woman shops for fancy jewellery in Chennai. AFP

Inside the Bikanervala Sweet Factory in Dubai Investment Park that is preparing for the Diwali rush on Indian Sweets. Antonie Robertson/The National

Prgati Grover prepares for the Diwali celebration at her home in Dubai. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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.