In Pics: Over 50,000 Lamps Adorn Pune’s Shaniwar Wada This Diwali

Diwali in Pune’s historic Shaniwar Wada is a spectacle like no other.

Diwali in Pune is like no other! Thanks to more than 50,000 diyas llighting up Pune’s monument that has been the seat of history – the Shaniwar Wada.

The tradition of lighting diyas dates back to the era of the Maratha Empire, for whom Shaniwar Wada was the seat of power. This tradition was in practice since 1734 until it was stopped by the British in 1818.

A laughing club Chaitanya Hasya Yog Mandal (CHYM) in the year 2000 resumed this tradition and has been successfully doing it every year since. On this day, thousands of terracotta lamps are lit up by citizens from all over Pune who come to participate in the joy and celebrations of Diwali. This former palace of the Peshwas and seat of the Maratha Kingdom turns into a splendour of light.

“Deep Utsav”, as this is popularly called, marks the beginning of Diwali in Pune and residents of Pune start the festivities with this lighting event every year.

This year ‘Pune Walks’ had organised a photo-walk to capture the “Deep Utsav” where photographers like me got a chance to capture the myriad lamps that light up the Shaniwar Wada.