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millions Indian Diwali was celebrated on Monday, with houses and roads across the country illuminated with lamps. Hindu Festival symbolizing the victory of light over darkness.
Diwali, derived from the word “Deepavali”, meaning “a row of lights”, is usually celebrated by social gatherings and exchange of gifts. The festival dates are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, usually falling in late October or early November.
Crowds of buyers flocked to the markets to buy flowers, lanterns and candles.
The celebration was seen the most Ayodhya City of Uttar Pradesh state. Hindus Believe that Lord Ram was born there and returned after 14 years of exile. People lit earthen lamps to commemorate his return home.
As evening fell on Sunday, more than 2.6 million lamps were lit on the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya, maintaining last year’s Guinness World Record. At least 2,100 Hindu priests prayed in unison, their chants echoing on the shimmering riverbank.
The holy city was also decorated with fairy lights, and a laser and fireworks show illuminated its streets and river banks. Thousands of residents lit lamps in homes and temples.
Officials said more than 33,000 volunteers helped light the lamps. About 40 families from nearby villages produced 1.6 million lamps. At least 73,000 liters of oil and 5.5 million cotton wicks were used to light the city.
“It is a difficult task to light the lamps one by one,” said volunteer Rachit Singh, 19, his face shining in the firelight. “But when you see the entire ghat (river steps) lit up, every effort seems worthwhile.”
In recent years, Diwali celebrations New Delhi Clouds of concern are looming over air pollution, as smoke-emitting firecrackers emit toxic smoke that may take days to clear.
On Monday, the level of the smallest particles on the air quality index rose to 347 in some parts of the city — about 14 times the World Health Organization’s daily recommended maximum exposure, according to the federal government’s air quality monitoring agency SAFAR.
Last week, India’s top court relaxed a blanket ban on firecrackers in New Delhi during Diwali, allowing limited use of “green crackers” that emit fewer pollutants. Developed by federal research institutes, these are designed to cut particle and gas emissions by about 30%.
The court said that these can be used during specific hours from Saturday to Tuesday.
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Associated Press writer Vishwajit Banerjee in Lucknow, India contributed to this report.