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Millions across India mark Diwali with oil lamps, prayers and fireworks, while Delhi faces its most polluted festival in a decade.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Millions across India are celebrating Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, illuminating homes, temples, offices and streets with oil lamps and colourful lights to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness.
The festival falls on the darkest night of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, when the moon is not visible in the sky. Although Diwali traditions vary across India's regions and communities, the festival is widely marked by prayers, family gatherings, the exchange of sweets and the lighting of firecrackers.
The celebrations began on 6 November with Dhanteras, when buying gold, silver or new utensils is considered auspicious and believed to bring good fortune. The second day, known as Chhoti Diwali, or small Diwali, is marked by the lighting of oil lamps and, in some households, setting off firecrackers. The third day is the main celebration, when families offer evening prayers to Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, before gathering for festive meals and fireworks. The fourth day is celebrated differently across India, with family gatherings and New Year festivities in some communities. The fifth and final day, known as Bhai Dooj, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.
The festival celebrates the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after his victory over Ravan, the main antagonist in the Hindu epic Ramayana, and symbolises the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.
Diwali is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains along with other important religious observances. Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas, or Prisoner Release Day, commemorating the release of their sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, from imprisonment at Gwalior Fort in the early 17th Century. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth, by Lord Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara, or spiritual teacher, of the current era.
The celebrations come amid growing concerns over air pollution, particularly in northern India. Seasonal weather conditions and the burning of crop residue contribute to deteriorating air quality, while firecrackers set off during Diwali can make the situation worse.
Air pollution in the Indian capital Delhi has reached such hazardous levels that it is the most polluted Diwali festival in a decade. New measures to improve air quality do not seem to have been successful. India's financial capital, Mumbai, has also experienced high pollution levels in recent weeks.
In an effort to limit pollution, India's Supreme Court on Monday permitted the manufacture, sale and use of certified "green" firecrackers in Delhi and surrounding areas for a limited period. These firecrackers are designed to produce 20-30% fewer emissions than conventional fireworks. But critics have questioned how effective they are at reducing pollution and raised concerns that conventional firecrackers could still make their way into the capital from neighbouring states.
Diwali is one of India's most widely observed festivals, marked by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, and celebrated by Indian communities around the world. The 2026 celebrations highlight both the cultural significance of the festival and the ongoing challenge of air pollution in Delhi and other Indian cities during the holiday period.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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