In pictures: Dazzling earthen oil lamps and colourful lights brighten homes and streets across India to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali which symbolises the victory of light over darkness
Indians celebrate Diwali as bright earthen oil lamps and dazzling, colourful lights lit up homes and streets across the country to mark the Hindu festival that symbolises the victory of light over darkness.
Over the past few years, Diwali celebrations are tinged with worries over air pollution, which typically shrouds northern India The markets buzzed with eager shoppers buying flowers, lanterns and candles meant to decorate houses and offices.As dusk fell on Sunday, over 1.5 million earthen lamps were lit and kept burning for 45 minutes at Ram ki Paidi, at the banks of Saryu River in the northern city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state, retaining the Guinness World Record it set last year.
Hindus believe that the deity Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya, where he returned after 14 years in exile. To celebrate his return, people light earthen lamps.