Journalism of Courage
Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most celebrated occasions in India. Also known as Deepawali/Deepavali, it is observed across the country in the autumn season, and by Hindus world-wide. This year, Diwali falls on October 18 and 19. The first day is celebrated as Chhoti Diwali and the latter is the main day. But the festivities start on Dhanteras (October 17) and carry on till Bhai Dooj (October 21). The significance of the festival is the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. The preparations of this festival begin days before the actual date. People clean and renovate their homes and offices, special shopping is done for the occasion, homes are decorated with lights and much more. The market too booms with various varieties of crackers, lights, lamps candles and sweets. Here are the pictures of pre-Diwali pictures from all across India.
A girl looking at the diwali lights at Vile Parle market, Mumbai. (Express Photo by Santosh Parab)
People buying lights and stars at Vile Parle market, Mumbai. (Express Photo by Santosh Parab)
Children from B.cabin shivaji nagar railway colony,Thane create mud fort before Diwali. It took them 10 days to make this Shivneri fort. (Express photo by Deepak Joshi)
A lady looking at the Diwali lights displayed at a store at Vile Parle market, Mumbai. (Express Photo by Santosh Parab)
A lady standing checking out the lights before buying them for Diwali at crawford market, Mumbai. (Express Photo by Vignesh Krishnamoorthy)
Widowed women in Vrindavan celebrating Diwali at Gopinath Temple near Mathura. (Source: PTI)
Workers prepare Laddu at a sweet shop in Kolkata ahead of Diwali festival. (Source: PTI)
Young girls, holding earthen lamps, pose near a Rangoli created on occasion of "Vaagh Baras" ahead of Diwali celebrations in Surat.(Source: PTI)
People buying decorative items from roadside shops ahead of Diwali festival in Amritsar. (Source: PTI)
A special centre in Kandivali, Mumbai where only paper latterns are made for Diwali. (Source: Express photo by Dilip Kagda)
As the festival nears, workers are busy finishing their work of making firecrackers for the upcoming festival at Champhati, outside Kolkata. (Source: Express photo by Partha Paul)
The town is famous for its good quality fireworks and making firecrackers before Diwali constitutes one of the main sources of income for many households. (Source: Express photo by Partha Paul)
Not just men but women of the town too actively participate in the trade for making and packing the products to be sold in various parts of the state. (Source: Express photo by Partha Paul)
While there are a few outlets in the town to sell the fireworks, most are transported to various special stalls and Diwali markets. (Source: Express photo by Partha Paul)
Shopkeepers set up stalls for Diwali with lights and decorations ahead of Dhanteras in Lucknow. (Source: Express photo by Vishal Srivastav)
Not just for our homes, but preparations are in full swing at shopping complexes too. A giant lotus, a symbol of Goddess Lakshmi was installed at a shopping mall as decoration in the western suburbs near Mumbai before Diwali. (Source: Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
Ladies shop for decorations at a Andheri stall ahead of Diwali in Mumbai. (Source: Express photo by Santosh Parab)
Do you want to celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali? Then go green this year and use diyas and paper lanterns and save electricity. Here children make decorations for the upcoming festival with their mothers. (Source: Express photo by Vignesh Krishnamorthy)
Making your own decorations can be fun. Seen here, little girl along with her mothers engaged in making a paper lantern for Diwali during a festival held at Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai. (Source: Express photo by Vignesh Krishnamorthy)
Rangoli is a big part of the celebrations. Seen here women buying colours for rangoli at a stall in Andheri, Mumbai. (Source: Express photo by Santosh Parab)
A shopping mall in the western suburbs of Mumbai decorated with cutouts and lights before Diwali. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)
On the auspicious day, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped for prosperity and well being. Seen here artist paints idol at a workshop in outskirts of Kolkata ahead of Diwali. (Source: Express photo by Partha Paul)
A sculpture arranges the idols at his workshop before it is taken to various parts of the town for selling in outskirts of Kolkata. (Source: Express photo by Partha Paul)
Traditional lamps made with clay being readied ahead of Diwali in Kolkata. (Source: Express photo by Partha Paul)
A tribal boy makes traditional Warli painting at a tribal village inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai ahead of Diwali. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)
A tribal boy makes traditional Warli painting at a tribal village inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai before Diwali. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)
Vendor setting up a stall to sell lights and decorations ahead of Diwali in Kolkata. (Source: Express photo by Subham Dutta)
People buying Chinese LED lights and Diwali decorations at a makeshift stall in Kolkata. (Source: Express photo by Subham Dutta)
A potter takes a break from making earthen diyas and clay pots, ahead of Diwali, in Noida on Wednesday, October 11, 2017. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)
A woman paints a diya before Diwali celebrations at Kumbharwada. (Express photo by Janak Rathod)
A diya being painted in festive colours prior to Diwali celebration at Kumbharwada. (Express Photo by Janak Rathod)
Phadtare family while working on their eco-friendly Diwali products. (Express Photo by Deepak Joshi)
Phadtare family for the last 18 years, prepares specially designed eco-friendly Diwali lanterns made from cloth usually for politicians, societies and NGO's in Thane, Mumbai. (Express Photo by Deepak Joshi)
A woman paints diyas prior to Diwali celebrations at Kumbharwada. (Express photo by Janak Rathod)
A potter makes diyas in preparations for the upcoming Diwali festival in Agarta, Tripura. (Source: PTI)
A blind student packing candles ahead of Diwali Bazaar of the Blind Relief Association in New Delhi. (Source: PTI)
A potter makes earthen lamps ahead of Diwali festival in Jammu. (Source: PTI)
Earthen lamps being readied ahead of Diwali festival in Jammu. (Source: PTI)
A woman potter makes earthen lamps ahead of Diwali festival, on the outskrits of Jammu. (Source: PTI)
Artists work on idols of the Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi ahead of Diwali festival in Moradabad. (Source: PTI)
A Blind worker and a student making candles for Diwali Bazaar of the Blind Relief Association in New Delhi. (Source: PTI)
A blind student packing candles ahead of Diwali Bazaar of the Blind Relief Association in New Delhi. The Association is hosting its annual event "Diwali Bazaar" from October 10 to 16. (Source: PTI)
A view of a street at Sadar Bazar that is being set up for the festival of Diwali in New Delhi. (Source: PTI)
Roadside vendors selling Diwali items at Sadar Bazar in New Delhi. (Source: PTI)
A woman keeps the diyas for display prior to Diwali celebrations at Kumbharwada on Wednesday. Express photo by Janak Rathod, 11th Oct 2017, Mumbai.
