Photo Gallery: 10 Captivating Pictures of Diwali in India

Photo Gallery: 10 Captivating Pictures of Diwali in India

1. Diwali, Festival of Lights

Diwali is India's biggest and most significant festival. Celebrating Diwali sees the whole country glowing under the light of lamps, candles, and fireworks. These Diwali photos show the heartwarming beauty of the occasion.

2. Making Diyas for Diwali

Traditional potters are very busy making clay diyas in the lead-up to Diwali. One of the places where this is carried out is Kumbharwada in Mumbai's renowned Dharavi slum.  Around 2,500 potter families belong to the community there. Work begins after the Holi festival, and continues intensively day and night in the lead-up to Diwali.

Husbands, fathers and brothers knead the clay and mold them into diyas, then bake them in kilns. Wives, mothers and sisters take over after that, painting them and packing them for sale. Children also help out with the painting and packing.

It's possible to visit Dharavi and Kumbharwada on a tour of the slum.  Here's why you must go on such a tour (it's actually the opposite of depressing poverty tourism).

3. Painting Diyas for Diwali

After the clay diyas are dry, they're beautifully hand-painted.

4. Making Rangoli for Diwali

Intricate rangoli is the focal point of decorations at the entrances to people's homes during Diwali. It's made using colored powder, held between the thumb and index finger. However, the application of it isn't as easy as it looks! If you find a design that you like, it's best to sketch it with chalk on the floor first. Birds, such as peacocks, and flowers are popular. Here are some ideas, as well as an overview of the application technique. Sometimes, people even use flower petals instead of colored powder.

5. Decorated Entrance for Diwali

People decorate the entrance to their houses to welcome and encourage Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, to enter.

6. Lakshmi Puja During Diwali

The Goddess Lakshmi is believed to have been created from the churning of the ocean on the main Diwali day. A special puja is performed to worship her on this day.

7. Diwali Sweets

It's customary to share sweets (and gifts) at Diwali.

8. Diwali Lanterns for Sale

Shops selling an assortment of Diwali lanterns, known as aakash kandils, are common at Diwali time.

9. Diwali Fireworks for Sale

Fireworks are an integral part of Diwali celebrations and markets are filled with them.

10. Diwali Fireworks

Fireworks and crackers are a huge part of Diwali celebrations. But be careful, as they're often let off in the street close to people!