India celebrates Diwali with lights, prayers and festive fireworks

Diwali celebrations are underway across India as families gather to observe rituals deeply rooted in Hindu tradition and broader South Asian culture. The festival, celebrated over several days, sees homes and public spaces adorned with oil lamps, colored lights and elaborate decorations that transform cities and villages into shimmering landscapes.

Prayers and religious ceremonies form the spiritual core of the festivities, with devotees visiting temples and engaging in family worship. The lighting of diyas, or traditional oil lamps, carries symbolic meaning tied to ancient Hindu mythology and the eternal struggle between light and darkness.

Fireworks displays illuminate night skies across urban centers and rural areas, creating spectacular visual celebrations that have become synonymous with the festival. The pyrotechnics, however, have increasingly drawn attention from environmental advocates concerned about air quality and pollution levels in major cities during the festival season.

Beyond its religious significance, Diwali carries profound cultural importance for India's diverse population. The festival brings communities together through shared traditions of gift-giving, food preparation and family gatherings, reinforcing social bonds across the country's varied regions and denominations.