InPics: How India Celebrated a ‘Greener’ Diwali This Year

A vendor sells marigold flower garlands in Kolkata. 

(Photo: AP)

Decorated lights decked up buildings and Diya’s (earthen lamps) dotted houses as people across the country celebrated Diwali on Sunday, 27 October with much fanfare amid some restrictions on bursting of firecrackers imposed by the Supreme Court. People exchanged sweets and gifts, visited temples and greeted each other, with many of them taking the virtual route to convey their wishes.

There was, however, no traditional exchange of sweets with Pakistani soldiers along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir or the Indo-Pak border in Punjab, officials said.

President Ram Nath Kovind greeted the people of the country and urged them to "try to bring happiness in the lives of those who are less fortunate and needy by lighting the lamp of love, care and sharing".

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also extended Diwali wishes to the people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri earlier in the day to spend Diwali with Indian Army personnel, hoped that this festival brightens everyone's "lives with prosperity and good health" and there is "happiness all around".

Here’s how India celebrated the festival of lights this year, in pictures:

A family bursts firecrackers as part of Diwali celebrations in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi feeds sweets to Indian Army personnel during Diwali celebrations in Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir. PM Modi was in Rajouri for Diwali, to meet with jawans on duty.

A boy tries to protect his ears from the noise of firecrackers being burst on a street during Diwali celebrations in Hyderabad.

Traders and Devotees of Swami Narayan sect Performing Chopda (Book) pooja on the day of Laxmi Pujan in Mumbai.

A vendor sells marigold flower garlands in Kolkata. 

People light fire crackers on a street during Diwali festival in Hyderabad.

An Indian vendor displays sweets for sale on Diwali, in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya.

A woman raises her phone as she attends a a four-day laser show organised by the Delhi government to promote a greener Diwali at Connaught Place’s Central Park in New Delhi, India, Saturday, 26 October.

A jawan presented a cap to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during celebrating the Diwali with the jawans of the Indian Army, in J&K’s Rajouri.

Students of Cotton University decorating Rangoli with Diyas (earthern lamps) on the occasion of Diwali festival in Guwahati.

Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya on the eve of Diwali. A record six lakh Diya’s were lit on the banks of Saryu river in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya as part of the state government’s Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of Diwali.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offers morning prayers on the banks of the River Sarayu as part of Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya.