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New Delhi: From rain-soaked Chennai to glittering Delhi and from temple courtyards in Tripura to lamp-lit homes across Punjab, India celebrated Diwali on Monday with colour, devotion and cheer — even as pollution cloaked the national capital.
In Delhi, homes and markets glimmered with diyas and fairy lights as the festival of lights brought families together. Despite the Supreme Court’s restrictions permitting only eco-friendly crackers, fireworks illuminated the city sky through the night. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings, wishing for “harmony, happiness and prosperity” to prevail across the nation.
But beneath the sparkle, the capital’s air quality continued to deteriorate. The Central Pollution Control Board recorded the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 345 — up from 326 a day earlier — warning it could worsen further into the “severe” range over the next two days.
In Tamil Nadu, Deepavali was celebrated amid heavy rains. Chennai’s streets gleamed with lamps and rangolis as residents donned new clothes, exchanged sweets and burst crackers early in the morning despite dark clouds. The festive mood endured even as showers drenched the city.
Bengaluru too was abuzz with festivity. Crowds filled iconic markets such as KR Market and Chickpet to buy flowers, sweets and lights. Authorities enforced the Supreme Court’s order by limiting firecracker bursting to two hours each evening and stepping up checks on illegal sales. Bengaluru Traffic Police deployed extra personnel to manage crowds near temples and shopping areas, while hospitals prepared emergency wards for firecracker injuries.
Across Punjab and Haryana, the glow of diyas brightened homes and gurdwaras as families celebrated together. In a touching gesture, Haryana Police personnel marked the festival with orphans, the elderly and the homeless, calling it a celebration of “compassion and shared smiles.”
In flood-ravaged Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami joined residents of Sahastradhara — one of the areas hit by last month’s cloudbursts — to celebrate Diwali. He assured continued rehabilitation efforts and said the festival symbolised “hope and unity.”
Meanwhile, West Bengal observed Kali Puja alongside Diwali. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee offered prayers at the Kalighat Temple and shared a devotional song she composed for the occasion. In Tripura, the historic Maa Tripura Sundari temple in Gomati district came alive with thousands of devotees lighting lamps during the ‘Kalyan Arati’. Chief Minister Manik Saha inaugurated the three-day celebration, highlighting efforts to boost spiritual tourism in the state.
