1. Home
  2. Slideshows
  3. 'Good Over Evil': India Celebrates Diwali, The Festival of Lights

'Good Over Evil': India Celebrates Diwali, The Festival of Lights

Published November 16th, 2020 - 06:38 GMT

The festival of lights, Diwali is one of the major festival celebrated mainly by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. The event usually lasts five days and celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika.

The festival is considered as one of the most popular ones marked by Hinduism. Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

In India, Diwali is known as the biggest and the most important holiday of the year. However, this year the festival was marked amid fear of high Covid-19 cases and rising air pollution crisis.

View as a slider
View as a list
Sikh devotees light candles on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of Light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP

Sikh devotees light candles on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of Light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP

Students from a government girls hostel prepare to burn a Covid-19 coronavirus model during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Hyderabad on November 14, 2020. NOAH SEELAM / AFP

Students from a government girls hostel prepare to burn a Covid-19 coronavirus model during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Hyderabad on November 14, 2020. NOAH SEELAM / AFP

A woman lights sparklers during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Allahabad on November 14, 2020. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP

A woman lights sparklers during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Allahabad on November 14, 2020. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP

People light firecrackers during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Chennai on November 14, 2020. Arun SANKAR / AFP

People light firecrackers during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Chennai on November 14, 2020. Arun SANKAR / AFP

A Sikh boy lights oil lamps on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of Light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP

A Sikh boy lights oil lamps on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of Light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP

Revellers release handmade sky-lanterns from the terrace of a building to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Kolkata on November 14, 2020. Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP

Revellers release handmade sky-lanterns from the terrace of a building to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Kolkata on November 14, 2020. Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP

Hindu devotees worship a dog as part of offerings for Tihar which is the local name for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at a dog care centre in Kathmandu on November 14, 2020. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP

Hindu devotees worship a dog as part of offerings for Tihar which is the local name for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at a dog care centre in Kathmandu on November 14, 2020. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP

People buy decorations for Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, from a stall in a market area in New Delhi on November 14, 2020. Jewel SAMAD / AFP

People buy decorations for Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, from a stall in a market area in New Delhi on November 14, 2020. Jewel SAMAD / AFP

A Sikh devotee takes a dip in the holy sarovar (water tank) on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP

A Sikh devotee takes a dip in the holy sarovar (water tank) on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP

Sikh devotees pay respect on the eve of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, at the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 13, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP

Sikh devotees pay respect on the eve of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, at the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 13, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP

Sikh devotees watch as fireworks explode on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, over the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP

Sikh devotees watch as fireworks explode on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, over the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP

Sikh devotees light candles on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of Light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Students from a government girls hostel prepare to burn a Covid-19 coronavirus model during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Hyderabad on November 14, 2020. NOAH SEELAM / AFP
A woman lights sparklers during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Allahabad on November 14, 2020. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP
People light firecrackers during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Chennai on November 14, 2020. Arun SANKAR / AFP
A Sikh boy lights oil lamps on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of Light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Revellers release handmade sky-lanterns from the terrace of a building to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Kolkata on November 14, 2020. Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP
Hindu devotees worship a dog as part of offerings for Tihar which is the local name for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at a dog care centre in Kathmandu on November 14, 2020. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP
People buy decorations for Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, from a stall in a market area in New Delhi on November 14, 2020. Jewel SAMAD / AFP
A Sikh devotee takes a dip in the holy sarovar (water tank) on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees pay respect on the eve of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, at the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 13, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees watch as fireworks explode on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, over the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees light candles on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of Light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees light candles on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of Light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Students from a government girls hostel prepare to burn a Covid-19 coronavirus model during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Hyderabad on November 14, 2020. NOAH SEELAM / AFP
Students from a government girls hostel prepare to burn a Covid-19 coronavirus model during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Hyderabad on November 14, 2020. NOAH SEELAM / AFP
A woman lights sparklers during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Allahabad on November 14, 2020. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP
A woman lights sparklers during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Allahabad on November 14, 2020. SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP
People light firecrackers during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Chennai on November 14, 2020. Arun SANKAR / AFP
People light firecrackers during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Chennai on November 14, 2020. Arun SANKAR / AFP
A Sikh boy lights oil lamps on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of Light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
A Sikh boy lights oil lamps on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of Light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Revellers release handmade sky-lanterns from the terrace of a building to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Kolkata on November 14, 2020. Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP
Revellers release handmade sky-lanterns from the terrace of a building to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Kolkata on November 14, 2020. Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP
Hindu devotees worship a dog as part of offerings for Tihar which is the local name for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at a dog care centre in Kathmandu on November 14, 2020. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP
Hindu devotees worship a dog as part of offerings for Tihar which is the local name for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at a dog care centre in Kathmandu on November 14, 2020. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP
People buy decorations for Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, from a stall in a market area in New Delhi on November 14, 2020. Jewel SAMAD / AFP
People buy decorations for Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, from a stall in a market area in New Delhi on November 14, 2020. Jewel SAMAD / AFP
A Sikh devotee takes a dip in the holy sarovar (water tank) on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
A Sikh devotee takes a dip in the holy sarovar (water tank) on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees pay respect on the eve of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, at the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 13, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees pay respect on the eve of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, at the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 13, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees watch as fireworks explode on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, over the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP
Sikh devotees watch as fireworks explode on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, over the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 14, 2020. NARINDER NANU / AFP

You may also like

Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content
Subscribe Now
Loading content ...