Millions in India are Celebrating Diwali, the Festival of Lights

Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India — and for Hindus in particular.

Transcript

00:00It's party time in India.

00:08Millions are celebrating the festival of Diwali as dazzling and colorful lights lit up homes

00:13and streets.

00:14The Hindu festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and is also a national

00:19holiday across India.

00:22Diwali is typically celebrated by socializing and exchanging gifts with family and friends.

00:28Homes are cleaned, new clothes are worn and prayers are said.

00:32Many homes also light earthen oil lamps or candles and fireworks are set off as part

00:37of celebrations.

00:40But every year the celebrations are also tinged with worries over air pollution as fireworks

00:45cause toxic smog that sometimes takes days to clear.

00:48New Delhi is particularly hit by this problem and is usually shrouded under a haze a day

00:52after Diwali.

00:53Nonetheless, people still burst crackers.

00:56They celebrate, they enjoy and they make a merry.