November 30, 2024

World in Photos: More than 1 billion people, bathed in the light of Diwali

Diwali #Diwali

It’s a holiday celebrated by more than a billion people each year — Hindus primarily, but Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains as well — and it’s commemorated in many ways: the consumption of sweets, and time spent with family and friends, but above all it’s a celebration bathed in light. The official name, translated from Sanskrit into English, is “the Festival of Lights.”

As Grid’s Suzette Lohmeyer noted Monday, Diwali is above all else devoted to “celebrating light over darkness — literally and metaphorically.” Metaphorically — as in the triumph of “good over evil, love over hate — the same themes you see across many religions,” said Vasudha Narayanan, distinguished professor of religion at the University of Florida and director of the Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions. Lohmeyer’s piece looked at the history and origins of Diwali; in this World in Photos, we come back to the present moment, and some spectacular photos from India and other nations where people have been gathering to celebrate.

As the photos show, the “lights” of Diwali can take many forms. Here you’ll see a spectacular show of light in Ayodhya; the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar; and the brilliant orange of marigolds being gathered to make garlands in Delhi — a different, more natural kind of “light.”

These photos also take us around the world — to temples in Yangon, Myanmar, and Indonesia; to a fireworks show over Dubai, United Arab Emirates; to the fully lit Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Batu Caves in Malaysia and even to the East Room of the White House, where Jill Biden welcomed a group of dancers honoring the holiday.

To all who celebrate, wherever you are, may your Diwali bring light in abundance.

Two women light candles by the water, the Golden Temple entirely lit up in the background.

Many people stand in two rows, lighting candles by the water in front of a lit up temple.

Two kids are seen on top of large piles of marigold flowers, while others work around them, making ornaments.

A man lights candles in a colorful and lit up temple.

The photo captures, from above, three people lighting candles.

A close-up shot of a woman wearing a large headpiece full of bright red flowers.

Two people can be seen in the middle of the sparks of firecrackers at night.

A view from afar shows people in front of a field of colorful lamps and lit up buildings.

In a view from above, people light red firecrackers at night in the streets of India.

A girl raises her hands to offer a prayer to an older woman at a temple full of lit candles and Diwali decorations.

A kid feeds a cow wearing marigold ornaments.

People are seen wearing colorful clothes, praying and lighting candles at a temple.

Colorful fireworks fill the Dubai night sky and reflect in the water as the buildings in the skyline are also lit up for Diwali.

People walk the colorful stairs of the Batu caves during the Diwali celebrations in Malaysia.

Jill and Ashley Biden stand on stage next to a group of dancers.

The Sidney Opera House at night, lit up with golden lights.

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