Introduction to Diwali
Diwali celebrations took place across India, with millions lighting their homes with oil lamps and decorative lights to celebrate the Hindu festival. The “Festival of Light” lasts about five days and is mainly celebrated in northern India. People of various faiths, including Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, take part in celebrations meant to mark the triumph of good over evil.
Preparations and Celebrations
People often deep clean or repaint their homes. Most often, people get together and wear new outfits. Families and friends exchange sweets called “mithai” and often eat together, with the weekend a blessing for many this time. Sweets are a big part of the festival, and many now also exchange chocolates. In Calcutta, vendors sell oil lamps and colorful candlesticks. Sparklers are common during the festival. The festival is celebrated by people of all socioeconomic strata, with people lighting up houses in a slum in Mumbai.
Global Celebrations
The festival is also celebrated elsewhere in South Asia, particularly in Hindu-majority Nepal, where it is largely known as Tihar, and is gaining popularity among the Indian diaspora community in countries such as Malaysia and the United States.
The Debate Over Firecrackers
But there is one aspect of the festival that is increasingly politically charged – the popping of fireworks. Many point out that firecrackers bursting every winter exacerbate the dense air pollution in the capital Delhi. Others say the activity is part of the festival’s tradition. India’s top court allowed the sale of green fireworks, considered less harmful to the environment, with specific rules for buying and selling crackers. Bursting of firecrackers remains under a judicial restriction in Delhi and surrounding cities since 2018 due to poor air quality every winter.
Record-Breaking Celebrations
Ayodhya holds the world record of lighting more than 2.6 million lamps. Celebrations could already be observed in the city of Ayodhya in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh before Monday. Hindus believe that the deity Lord Ram was born there and Diwali celebrates his homecoming after 14 years in exile. On Sunday, the city lit more than 2.6 million lamps on the banks of the Saryu River, tying last year’s Guinness World Record.
Indian Prime Minister’s Diwali Celebration
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Indian naval personnel aboard the INS Vikrant off the coast of the western state of Goa on Monday. Modi was treated to a musical performance on the ship while the staff sang the song “The Vow of Sindoor” to him. The song is a reference to India’s brief conflict with Pakistan in May, in which New Delhi launched attacks as part of a campaign called "Operation Sindoor." Modi, in his Diwali address, praised the Indian military and said, "The glow of the sun’s rays on the water of the ocean is like the Diwali lamps lit by brave soldiers." He added that the ship had given Pakistan “sleepless nights.”
