by Peerzada Arshad Hamid
NEW DELHI, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Millions of Hindus across India on Sunday celebrated Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, with fervor and gaiety.
The festival, according to Hindu scholars, marks the victory of good over evil.
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the biggest festivals in India. People celebrate the festival by lighting up houses, shops, temples and other public places.
People hang lanterns outside their homes and draw floral patterns using colored powder on the floor of their houses to welcome guests, besides bringing good luck and prosperity to their homes.
People even lit up earthen oil lamps and set off fireworks to celebrate the festival.
The Hindus visit temples, wear new clothes and exchange gifts with friends and relatives.
Apart from praying, people gather with their families to enjoy sumptuous meals and distribute sweets among neighbors and friends.
Diwali festival marks an official holiday in India.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people on Diwali and extended their wishes on the occasion.
On Saturday, Ayodhya city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh set a Guinness World Record by lighting over 2.2 million earthen oil lamps during celebrations on the eve of Diwali.
The celebrations in the capital region, Delhi and its outskirts, trigger concerns about air pollution, as many people set off firecrackers ignoring government appeals to avoid it.
Last week, Delhi witnessed an alarming rise in air pollution levels. Authorities shut down schools and suspended local sports tournaments and events in the wake of pollution. ■