Diwali 2021: India celebrates festival of lights under shadow of Covid-19

Diwali 2021: India celebrates the festival of lights under the shadow of the coronavirus. This year Diwali falls in November.

Indians have started celebrating Diwali. This is the festival of lights for Hindus. The celebrations began under the shadow of the coronavirus.

Candles are lit to symbolise the “victory of light over darkness”. Traditionally gifts are given to family and friends. Socialising is also part of the celebrations. Along with the candles and oil lamps, fireworks are normally set off in many places.

The coronavirus pandemic affected celebrations in India last year. Infections were spiking at the time of the festivities. This year the Diwali celebrations seem to be in full swing.

Many people have been out buying candles, lanterns and flowers ready for the celebrations. This is after the government urged people to avoid large gatherings.

In the northern city of Ayodhya, more than 900,000 lamps were lit as dusk fell last night. The lamps burn for 45 minutes which meant the city kept the Guinness World Record that was set in 2020. Last year just over 600,000 lamps were lit.

According to Britannica, Diwali is: “one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, lasting for five days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina to the second day of the light half of the lunar month Karttika. (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.)

“The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning “row of lights.” The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. The third day of Diwali is celebrated on Thursday, November 4, 2021.”

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