Postcard from abroad: a magical scene as Hindus chase away the darkness

By Amrit Dhillon
Updated October 28 2016 - 6:11pm, first published 11:58am
Hand-painted diyas for sale in Delhi ahead of Diwali which falls on Sunday October 30 this year. Photo: Amrit Dhillon
Hand-painted diyas for sale in Delhi ahead of Diwali which falls on Sunday October 30 this year. Photo: Amrit Dhillon
A woman shops for clay Hindu figurines in preparation for Diwali. Photo: Amrit Dhillon
A woman shops for clay Hindu figurines in preparation for Diwali. Photo: Amrit Dhillon
Pottery vendor Ram Kumar waits for customers ahead of the Dwali festival. Photo: Amrit Dhillon
Pottery vendor Ram Kumar waits for customers ahead of the Dwali festival. Photo: Amrit Dhillon
Plain clay diyas are piled high for sale as families prepare to light up their homes. Photo: Amrit Dhillon
Plain clay diyas are piled high for sale as families prepare to light up their homes. Photo: Amrit Dhillon

New Delhi: For 364 days of the year, New Delhi is a dirty, chaotic and massively polluted city. On one day, it is transformed from an ugly duckling into a beautiful princess; every part of it lit up by millions of flickering diyas – small clay pots made on the potter's wheel and baked.

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