In Pictures: From homes to markets, India celebrates the festival of lights

India celebrated Deepavali, the festival of lights, with prayers, lamps and family gatherings across the country on November 8, 2026.

Homes, temples and markets glowed with diyas, lanterns and strings of lights as people marked the festival.

Rangoli designs, flowers and sweets filled households, while crowds thronged markets for last-minute shopping.

Families offered evening prayers and shared sweets with neighbours, with fireworks lighting up the sky where permitted.

Here are pictures of the celebrations from across the country.

Photo: Imran Nissar

People light earthen lamps on the occasion of Diwali, festival of lights, near the Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) in Srinagar, November 8, 2026.

Photo: Imran Nissar

People light earthen lamps on the occasion of Deepavali near the Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) in Srinagar, on November 8, 2026.

Photo: Imran Nissar

People light earthen lamps on the occasion of Deepavali near the Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) in Srinagar, on November 8, 2026.

Photo: Ragu R.

Thick smog in Chennai following Deepavali fireworks on November 8, 2026.

Photo: Ragu R.

Thick smog in Chennai following Deepavali fireworks on November 8, 2026.

Photo: Ragu R.

Thick smog in Chennai following Deepavali fireworks on November 8, 2026.

Photo: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

People burst crackers on Deepavali in New Delhi on November 8, 2026.

Photo: PTI

People burst firecrackers to celebrate Diwali, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, on November 8, 2026

Photo: AFP

Fireworks light up the night sky over the illuminated Golden Temple on the occasion of Diwali, the festival of lights in Amritsar on November 8, 2026

Photo: PTI

Niranjani Akhara sadhus release sky lanterns to celebrate the ‘Diwali' festival’, in Prayagraj, on November 8, 2026.

Photo: AP

Children play with firecrackers ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at an orphanage in Jammu.

Photo: Rajesh Kumar Singh

Drones portray scenes from the Ramayana story above the banks of the Saryu river during Deepotsav festival of lights celebrations, an event organized by the Uttar Pradesh state government in Ayodhya , India,Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Photo: -

Raigad: A view of a map of India created using one lakh earthen lamps along with the awareness message 'Say No to Drugs' during Diwali celebrations, in Raigad district, Maharashtra, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (PTI Photo)(PTI11_08_2026_000275B)

Photo: SUDHAKARA JAIN

KARNATAKA : BENGALURU : 06/11/2026 : A woman looks at decorative lanterns displayed for sale at a roadside shop ahead of Deepavali in Bengaluru on Friday, 06 November 2026. Photo: Sudhakara Jain / The Hindu.

Photo: SIDDHANT THAKUR

Hyderabad, Telangana, 08/11/2026: Fireworks burst over Hussain Sagar as Hyderabad celebrates Deepavali, seen from Tank Bund, in Hyderabad on Sunday, November 08, 2026. Photo: SIDDHANT THAKUR/The Hindu.  

Photo: Siddhant Thakur

Fireworks burst over Hussain Sagar as Hyderabad celebrates Deepavali, seen from Tank Bund, in Hyderabad on November 8, 2026.

Photo: A. Shaikmohideen

Fireworks light up the night sky over Tirunelveli as people celebrate Deepavali.

Photo: G. Moorthy

Firecrackers lighting up the Madurai sky on the eve of Deepavali.

Photo: M. Periasamy

People celebrate Deepavali in Coimbatore on November 8, 2026.

Published - November 09, 2026 09:52 am IST