Diwali: Festival of Lights | National Geographic

at any time of year a visitor to India

at any time of year a visitor to India would be overwhelmed by his beauty and

would be overwhelmed by his beauty and

would be overwhelmed by his beauty and color but a visitor in late fall is

color but a visitor in late fall is

color but a visitor in late fall is especially fortunate the temperature

especially fortunate the temperature

especially fortunate the temperature will have filled down the monsoons will

will have filled down the monsoons will

will have filled down the monsoons will have not yet begun and Diwali the

have not yet begun and Diwali the

have not yet begun and Diwali the festival of lights is at hand

Diwali is too many Indians what

Diwali is too many Indians what Christmas is to Christians in essence it

Christmas is to Christians in essence it

Christmas is to Christians in essence it commemorates the victory of the forces

commemorates the victory of the forces

commemorates the victory of the forces of light over the forces of darkness

to experience it fully get up before

to experience it fully get up before dawn and head for the flower markets

dawn and head for the flower markets

dawn and head for the flower markets here flower vendors work feverishly to

here flower vendors work feverishly to

here flower vendors work feverishly to create Garland’s of fragrant jasmine

create Garland’s of fragrant jasmine

create Garland’s of fragrant jasmine that Indians will use to adorn their

that Indians will use to adorn their

that Indians will use to adorn their homes by dawn they’ll be sold out next

homes by dawn they’ll be sold out next

homes by dawn they’ll be sold out next head for one of the temples but go early

head for one of the temples but go early

head for one of the temples but go early later on in the day they’ll be packed on

later on in the day they’ll be packed on

later on in the day they’ll be packed on your way over you may see a curious

your way over you may see a curious

your way over you may see a curious sight people hunched in front of their

sight people hunched in front of their

sight people hunched in front of their doorways pouring colored sand on the

doorways pouring colored sand on the

doorways pouring colored sand on the ground the sand takes the shape of a

ground the sand takes the shape of a

ground the sand takes the shape of a lotus blossom a symbol of welcome and

lotus blossom a symbol of welcome and

lotus blossom a symbol of welcome and today millions of symbols of welcome

today millions of symbols of welcome

today millions of symbols of welcome will grace the nation’s doorways indeed

will grace the nation’s doorways indeed

will grace the nation’s doorways indeed Diwali is all about sharing if you’re

Diwali is all about sharing if you’re

Diwali is all about sharing if you’re staying in a private home don’t be

staying in a private home don’t be

staying in a private home don’t be surprised if the neighbors show up with

surprised if the neighbors show up with

surprised if the neighbors show up with plates of delicious holiday trees it’s

plates of delicious holiday trees it’s

plates of delicious holiday trees it’s also customary for families to go to the

also customary for families to go to the

also customary for families to go to the temples together on this day they often

temples together on this day they often

temples together on this day they often dress and find new outfits purchased

dress and find new outfits purchased

dress and find new outfits purchased especially for Diwali and if their

especially for Diwali and if their

especially for Diwali and if their outfits inspire you or for a saree shop

shops are open on Diwali and Indian

shops are open on Diwali and Indian silks are justifiably famous for their

silks are justifiably famous for their

silks are justifiably famous for their beauty they’re just one of the ways

beauty they’re just one of the ways

beauty they’re just one of the ways India spruces up and gets into the

India spruces up and gets into the

India spruces up and gets into the holiday spirit so this is an occasion

holiday spirit so this is an occasion

holiday spirit so this is an occasion for all of us to rejoice and be with the

for all of us to rejoice and be with the

for all of us to rejoice and be with the family and enjoy all the good things in

family and enjoy all the good things in

family and enjoy all the good things in life so we buy good clothes and make

life so we buy good clothes and make

life so we buy good clothes and make good food in everywhere there are lights

good food in everywhere there are lights

good food in everywhere there are lights if you head to major commercial

if you head to major commercial

if you head to major commercial districts throughout India you’ll find

districts throughout India you’ll find

districts throughout India you’ll find colorful displays possible to Christmas

colorful displays possible to Christmas

colorful displays possible to Christmas lights in western cities some cities

lights in western cities some cities

lights in western cities some cities also put on spectacular public displays

also put on spectacular public displays

also put on spectacular public displays of fireworks like this one in Delhi but

of fireworks like this one in Delhi but

of fireworks like this one in Delhi but no matter where you are there are

no matter where you are there are

no matter where you are there are smaller more intimate fireworks displays

smaller more intimate fireworks displays

smaller more intimate fireworks displays a long day of celebrations is coming to

a long day of celebrations is coming to

a long day of celebrations is coming to an end and it’s going out with a bang