In Pictures: From homes to markets, India celebrates the festival of lights

India celebrated Deepavali, the festival of lights, with prayers, lamps and family gatherings across the country on November 8, 2026.

Homes, temples and markets glowed with diyas, lanterns and strings of lights as people marked the festival.

Rangoli designs, flowers and sweets filled households, while crowds thronged markets for last-minute shopping.

Families offered evening prayers and shared sweets with neighbours, with fireworks lighting up the sky where permitted.

Here are pictures of the celebrations from across the country.

People light earthen lamps on the occasion of Deepavali near the Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) in Srinagar, on November 8, 2026.

Thick smog in Chennai following Deepavali fireworks on November 8, 2026.

Fireworks light up the night sky as part of Deepavali celebrations in Coimbatore on November 8, 2026.

People burst crackers on Deepavali in New Delhi on November 8, 2026.

People burst firecrackers to celebrate Diwali, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, on November 8, 2026

Fireworks light up the night sky over the illuminated Golden Temple on the occasion of Diwali, the festival of lights in Amritsar on November 8, 2026

Stockbroker traders react as their family watches him trading during a special "muhurat" trading session for Deepavali at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in Mumbai on November 8, 2026.

Niranjani Akhara sadhus release sky lanterns to celebrate the ‘Diwali' festival’, in Prayagraj, on November 8, 2026.

Children play with firecrackers ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at an orphanage in Jammu.

Drones portray scenes from the Ramayana story above the banks of the Saryu river during Deepotsav festival of lights celebrations, an event organized by the Uttar Pradesh Government in Ayodhya on November 7, 2026.

A view of a map of India created using one lakh earthen lamps along with the awareness message 'Say No to Drugs' during Diwali celebrations, in Raigad district, Maharashtra on November 8, 2026.

A chawl decorated with colourful sky lanterns (kandils) and decorative lights as children burst firecrackers on the eve of Deepavali, at Lower Parel, in Mumbai on November 7, 2026.

A woman looks at decorative lanterns displayed for sale at a roadside shop ahead of Deepavali in Bengaluru on November 6, 2026.

Fireworks burst over Hussain Sagar as Hyderabad celebrates Deepavali, seen from Tank Bund, in Hyderabad on November 8, 2026.

Fireworks light up the night sky over Tirunelveli as people celebrate Deepavali.

Firecrackers lighting up the Madurai sky on the eve of Deepavali.

People celebrate Deepavali in Coimbatore on November 8, 2026.

Deepavali / festivals / arts, culture and entertainment / India