A Year In Migration

My Scholarship entry - Diwali: The Festival of Lights

INDIA | Sunday, 23 November 2014 | Views [403] | View Larger Image

Along the Ganges a joyous crowd came together to set off fireworks. The whole festival reminded me of a giant party from the time of sunrise to well past 3am the next morning. I was told feuds are set aside and enemies hug on this day to honor the return of the god Rama. There were quite literally hundreds of thousands of people along the banks of the Ganges. This photo was taken from a boat capturing the festivities along the ghats (the steps leading down to the Ganges). A candle, light, of person, filled every inch of space for miles.

Tags: diwali, candles, lights, celebration

Because Diwali is celebrated on the new moon the sky is eerily dark compared to the rest of the lit up city. Each family decorates their homes from top to bottom in string lights and candles, accompanied by fireworks and music. I have never been around so much noise and light at the same time. The air is heavy with the smell of smoke and fire, so much so that in the morning I could not see from my house to the temple across the street. The sounds of gleeful shouting and REALLY loud fireworks from over 1 million people were incredible.

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A sacred diya floats past our boat. Varanasi is one of the most important places in the worship of Diwali because it is located where the Ganga turns north (flows backwards in Hindu tradition). Candles and lights are put out to welcome the Gods out of the darkness. It was near to impossible to capture this shot because we were on a powerboat zooming past, but I was extremely happy to get this picture because it is such a critical part of the celebration. The diyas represent parts of sun, the cosmic giver of light and energy to all life.

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A Year In Migration

My Scholarship entry - Diwali: The Festival of Lights

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