Diwali
Diwali popularly known as the “festival of lights”, is an important five-day festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes.
Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama, along with Sita and Lakshman, from his fourteen-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst firecrackers.
In Jainism, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC. In Sikhism, Deepavali commemorates the return of Guru Har Gobind Ji to Amritsar after freeing 52 Hindu kings imprisoned in Fort Gwalior by defeating Emperor Jahangir.
Slums in India during the biggest Hindu festival - Diwali (also known as The Festival of Lights)! It's a time when every Hindu household hangs a colourful lantern outside their door. And in India, that's a lotta houses!
The aftermath of Diwali (well, other than loss of hearing) are streets covered in the paper leftover of the thousands of firecrackers lit off from early morning. This is about halfway through the day and had I taken a shot of the street after the evening celebrations, it would have been more than twice as much. ut the colourful paper and newsprint made to wrap the cheap crackers (which are essentially just gunpowder, paper and a dubiously standardized wick) have an interesting beauty about them.
