Diwali festival preparations in India

Artisans make earthen lamps ahead of the Diwali festival at a traditional workshop in Kolkata and oil lamps are lit during the Deep Utsav, or Light Festival, at the historical Gauhar Mahal palace, as part of the Diwali festival celebrations in Bhopal, India, 09 November 2020.

Diya is a small earthen lamp primarily lit during Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Also known as ‘deep’, Diya is traditionally made of clay.

The Diwali festival of lights symbolizes the victory of good over evil, commemorating Lord Ram’s return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing a 14-year exile. Diwali will be celebrated on 14 November 2020.

A visual story by EFE/EPA photographers PIYAL ADHIKARY and SANJEEV GUPTA