From the archive record
People buy lanterns and lamps from roadside stalls ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights in the market of Chandni Chowk, Delhi. Diwali also known as Deepavali and the "festival of lights", is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair. The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali night falls between mid-October and mid-November. Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate and decorate their homes and offices. On Diwali night, Hindus dress up in new c