प्रसिद्ध भारतीय मिठाइयाँ
The 10 Most Delicious Indian Sweets | The Cooking World
Kesar Peda is another famous sweet from the Indian subcontinent, originating from Mathura, usually prepared in thick, semi-soft pieces. The main ...
Diwali
Indian sweets are so different than traditional Western desserts that sometimes is hard to know what’s on your plate and how to eat it. It is easy to be overwhelmed with the intense flavors and incredible sweetness of Indian desserts. But there is an addictive quality in these sweets that we can’t explain. Just one bite and those fragrant and exotic desserts suddenly become something you crave. Especially during festive occasions like <anchor>Diwali</anchor>, the Hindu festival of lights that takes place during the new moon between October and November.
Pictures and facts about Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights
Pictures and facts about Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights

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![fire cracker streaks in the night sky](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/c934e440-db3d-40d1-87d4-05a4e107e0c2/diwali-yourshot-1236444.jpg)

![](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/ce8c58c1-77f3-4c71-ab4a-a3e76152f5bb/diwali-yourshot-11856502.jpg)

![](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/5f1e9498-9910-49ff-83d0-aac457711cc1/diwali-yourshot-12858009.jpg)

![](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/5e5d1282-4932-4a82-ac46-e3ec666121a8/diwali-yourshot-12871317.jpg)

![diwali celebrations](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/140dc2da-6bea-4c61-9b97-3b7cbe06273b/diwali-yourshot-11852331.jpg)

![](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/d7f1402c-364a-49ce-8afb-dc71770e50a4/diwali-yourshot-11962545.jpg)

![monks lighting fireworks](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/0e9f857f-dd22-4264-bee9-0fc388b9ebf2/diwali-yourshot-11484150.jpg)

![](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/bdd1e487-0d56-4d87-880b-021d4e33aba9/diwali-yourshot-11986159.jpg)

![people setting off fireworks](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/e7f3bb62-e219-4f38-8fa7-93460aca8bea/diwali-yourshot-11323283.jpg)

![a flower design surrounded by candles](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/9f26bb06-79a0-4132-9c87-d4d36283d729/diwali-yourshot-11367887.jpg)

![cows in the middle of the road](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/072e941c-9a1a-4ece-9297-cc2d8516a911/diwali-yourshot-382899.jpg)

![Fireworks fall like rain over Kolkata.](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/6dc0154b-8450-467f-994b-198ff21d9eab/diwali-yourshot-10761588.jpg)

![people lighting small oil candles](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/97b5853e-e856-4bc0-9040-31c129164456/diwali-yourshot-10392340.jpg)

![a boy launching a lantern into the sky](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/18d93012-a2c9-4737-8dc1-a737bbd44d8f/diwali-yourshot-11157674.jpg)

![candles outside of a home](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/0f9fdc32-9eff-4a7d-9979-bd261f8b4106/diwali-yourshot-10465309.jpg)

![child collecting the unburnt crackers that littered the streets](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/1c9d4311-5895-43e0-8c6a-3eafda7f13c4/diwali-yourshot-7561409.jpg)

![an orange glow of smoke from a building fire](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/f1507854-ddeb-4809-8f00-29ec5b468674/diwali-yourshot-9257027.jpg)

![a cityscape lit up with fireworks](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/f109a854-7fed-406a-a73f-c23b7b695ad9/diwali-yourshot-11307978.jpg)

![dancers](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/34d683b4-3729-471c-967d-ccc76ce1fa0d/diwali-yourshot-7261022.jpg)

![](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/5aaf1dbf-8c68-4d27-82be-c3bc06bad482/diwali-yourshot-11617590.jpg)

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Das took this image of raining fire during a firecracker competition; at the moment when the _tubri-baji_ firecracker “got exhausted and the remaining airborne sparks were coming down.”

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANIRBAN DAS, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT

- [TRAVEL](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel)
- [PHOTO GALLERY](/related/78df1be4-6cce-3171-9e90-8192eaac4398/photo-gallery)

# See dazzling pictures of Diwali, the festival of lights

The famous Hindu celebration is increasingly popular among tourists.

ByKaren Gardiner

November 7, 2018

•3 min read

Members of our [Your Shot](https://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/) photography community captured the pictures in this gallery. Join the community to share a photo of somewhere that's meaningful to you.

In these turbulent times, we all need reassurance that good will eventually triumph over evil. [Diwali](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/happy-diwali/), India’s biggest and most important holiday, offers just that.

The festival traces [its origins](https://www.npr.org/2012/11/13/165046185/diwali-celebrating-the-festival-of-lights) to several different texts, the most popular of which is the tale of the Hindu god Lord Rama. According to the ancient Sanskrit epic _Ramayana,_ Rama returned to his kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years in exile to defeat the demon king Ravana. Diwali is also linked to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. But all variations of the festival are linked by a common symbolism: the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.

Diwali takes place around the new moon between the Hindu months of Asvina and Kartika (late October/early November). People throughout [India](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destination/india) ( [and Nepal](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/diwali-festival-tharu-near-chitwan-national-park)) celebrate Diwali (which is also known as Deepavali) by setting off fireworks, sharing sweet treats, and decorating homes and public spaces. Five days of celebrations begin with cleaning the home on the first day and, on the second, decorating with clay lamps and _rangoli_ designs on floors.

The third day (which falls on November 7 this year) is the main event, reuniting families to pray and feast. On the fourth day, friends and relatives celebrate the first day of the Hindu new year by exchanging gifts, and on the final day, which honors siblings, brothers and sisters celebrate together.

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Recent years have seen [a jump](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/Tourists-throng-city-during-Diwali/articleshow/45002261.cms) in foreign tourists [visiting India](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/expeditions/destinations/asia/india/) specifically to participate in Diwali celebrations, especially joining a [local family's celebration](https://www.theepochtimes.com/foreign-tourist-join-indian-families-in-diwali-festivities_1040683.html). Global tour operator [Trafalgar](https://www.trafalgar.com/) has seen such an increase in interest that they’ve created [a trip](https://www.trafalgar.com/en-au/tours/t/treasures-of-india-celebrate-diwali#Overview) specifically surrounding Diwali.

Karen Gardiner is a travel and arts writer from Scotland. Find her at her [website](https://karengardiner.com) or follow her on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/karendesuyo/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/karendesuyo) @karendesuyo.

## Related Topics

- [FESTIVALS](/related/9441923c-0f39-34aa-b3d3-4973c77fb0ec/festivals)
- [HOLIDAYS](/related/f73ed714-6ec9-384b-8dae-31659454fa3f/holidays)
- [PHOTOGRAPHY](/related/d7aaf67c-ceaa-382b-a6f9-297a82cb6d58/photography)
- [LIGHT](/related/c9e75050-d58c-358c-b3a6-ea1b4cace667/light)

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