Diwali 2026: From Ayodhya’s sea of diyas to Goa’s fiery Narkasurs, India celebrates the festival in splendour

India is celebrating Diwali on Sunday with a spectacular blend of devotion, tradition and festivity, as homes, temples and public spaces prepare to glow with the warmth of thousands of lamps.

From the riverbanks of Ayodhya, where lakhs of earthen diyas illuminated 56 ghats, to Goa, where towering effigies of demon king Narkasur went up in flames, the festival is bringing together distinctive regional customs under one familiar message: the triumph of light over darkness.

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As families prepare for Lakshmi Puja, the centrepiece of the five-day celebrations, the festive mood is accompanied by elaborate security arrangements, special railway services and large-scale civic preparations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his Diwali wishes to the country, while central armed police forces have greeted citizens and personnel, urging them to carry the festival's message of positivity and commitment into their lives.

The celebrations, which began with Dhanteras on November 6 and continued with Choti Diwali on November 7, reach their main occasion today, November 8.

Across the country, people mark the festival by decorating homes with diyas, lights and rangoli, offering prayers, exchanging sweets and wearing traditional attire.

Delhi: High alert as the capital prepares for the festival

In the national capital, the celebrations are accompanied by heightened security across markets, religious places and other crowded public spaces. Delhi Police has deployed personnel across all 15 districts, paying particular attention to shopping complexes, metro stations, bus terminals and sensitive locations.

Police teams have been instructed to maintain heightened vigilance and conduct regular patrols. Additional personnel, plainclothes officers, pickets and intensified vehicle checks form part of the arrangements. CCTV cameras and other surveillance systems are also being used to monitor important locations and crowd movement.

A senior police officer said district-level arrangements were being reviewed to ensure a prompt response to any law-and-order situation. Market associations and local stakeholders have been asked to report suspicious activity and unattended objects. Residents have also been advised to remain vigilant.

The festive rush has put the transport network in focus. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said around 18,000 special trains had been operated this year to meet additional demand during Diwali, Durga Puja and Chhath, benefiting more than two crore passengers.

During a visit to Anand Vihar Terminal, Vaishnaw said holding areas had been established to manage crowds. He also flagged congestion on the foot overbridge connecting the terminal with the Delhi Metro, Regional Rapid Transit System and bus stand. Officials have been instructed to examine whether it should be widened or replaced with a subway before the next festive season.

Arrangements have also been made at major stations, including Hazrat Nizamuddin, New Delhi and Shakur Basti. The minister said officials had been told to mobilise additional trains within hours during peak periods.

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Goa: Narkasur goes up in flames

Goa's Diwali celebrations carry a dramatic local signature. On the eve of the main festival, giant effigies of Narkasur, the demon king, were set ablaze across the state in the traditional observance of Narkasur Vadh.

The ritual, observed on Naraka Chaturdashi, recalls the slaying of Narakasur by Lord Krishna and Satyabhama, according to Hindu tradition. The spectacle takes weeks of preparation, with people crafting elaborate, towering effigies before displaying and burning them amid music and dance.

The flames symbolise the destruction of evil and the victory of good over darkness. The tradition remains an integral part of Goa's Diwali celebrations, bringing people together to witness the symbolic burning.

Naraka Chaturdashi is also known as Kali Chaudas, Narak Chaudas, Roop Chaudas, Choti Diwali and Narak Nivaran Chaturdashi.

Ayodhya: After the glow of Deepotsav, a clean-up at the Saryu ghats

In Ayodhya, the spectacle of Deepotsav has given way to a morning of clean-up and prayer. Authorities launched a cleanliness drive along the Saryu riverfront on Sunday after the city's 10th Deepotsav, removing used diyas, wicks and other waste from the ghats.

On Saturday, lakhs of earthen lamps illuminated 56 ghats along the river. Thousands gathered to witness cultural programmes, including a light-and-sound show and stage performances depicting episodes from the Ramayana.

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the celebrations, alongside saints and other guests. After the Maha Aarti, devotees gathered at Saryu Ghat to offer prayers and take a holy dip.

The clean-up operation brought a civic dimension to the grand spectacle, as local administrative bodies moved to restore the riverfront after the celebrations.

Chitrakoot: Five-day fair welcomes devotees

The Diwali period has also brought a five-day Deepotsav fair to Chitrakoot.

Authorities have made arrangements for devotees and visitors, including police deployment at traffic points, night shelters, lighting and sanitation.

District Magistrate Pulkit Garg said more than 1,800 workers had been deployed for cleaning across locations.

He added that police personnel were stationed at traffic points and arrangements had been made to ensure adequate lighting and cleanliness throughout the city.

Mathura and Govardhan: 1,008 lamps illuminate temple complex

In Mathura, Diwali festivities began at Sri Krishna Janmasthan on Saturday with the lighting of 1,008 lamps across the temple complex.

The Deepotsav began with a lamp being lit at the Sri Keshavdev temple, followed by the illumination of Sri Girraj Ji temple, Yogmaya temple, the sanctum sanctorum and Bhagwat Bhawan. Music and dance performances accompanied the ceremony.

The lamps were lit using a sacred flame brought from different temples within the premises, said Gopeshwar Nath Chaturvedi of Sri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan. The complex was decorated for the occasion, with the Sri Keshavdev temple adorned with a Phool Bangla, or floral decoration. Mathura-Vrindavan MLA Sri Kant Sharma attended the celebrations.

In nearby Govardhan, lamps were also lit at Sri Radha Kund. Vinod Kumar Sharma, a priest at Sri Hargokul Temple, said lighting a lamp during the month of Kartik was considered auspicious. Devotees were also expected to light lamps at Sri Radha Kund on Sunday.

Modi, armed forces extend Diwali greetings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished people happiness and prosperity in a post on X on Sunday: “Diwali wishes to everyone! Boundless Diwali wishes to my family members across the country.” In a video message a day earlier, he described the festival as a symbol of the country’s resolve against darkness.

Modi said he would continue his tradition of celebrating Diwali with jawans, spending the occasion among soldiers as he has done every year. He had earlier met Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and exchanged greetings.

The CRPF, BSF and CISF also extended wishes to citizens, personnel and their families. CRPF Director General G P Singh wished them wisdom, joy, good health and prosperity. BSF chief Praveen Kumar linked the festival to self-discipline, devotion to duty and national security, urging personnel to spread positivity. The CISF called on people to celebrate with joy and stay safe.

From Goa’s burning effigies to Ayodhya’s riverfront and Mathura’s temple lamps, the country’s regional traditions are illuminating a shared festive spirit.

The village that skips Diwali

While Diwali celebrations lit up homes and streets across India on Sunday, Sammoo village in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district remained quiet, with residents continuing a tradition of not celebrating the festival that has lasted for over 100 years.

According to local belief, a woman who committed sati cursed the village against celebrating Diwali. Residents say attempts to break the tradition have been followed by mishaps, including fires and deaths. While some villagers occasionally light lamps, they avoid fireworks and festive cooking, with many travelling to neighbouring villages to witness the celebrations.

Manipur: Rs 1,000 each for displaced families

The Manipur government has released ₹5.88 crore as special festive assistance to 58,863 internally displaced persons (IDPs) on the occasion of Diwali and Ningol Chakouba. Each eligible beneficiary received ₹1,000 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on Sunday, according to an official statement.

The funds were released from the state emergency fund and transferred to the designated accounts of deputy commissioners in 10 districts. The deputy commissioners have been directed to ensure timely disbursement after verification. The IDP community thanked the government led by Y Khemchand Singh for the assistance during the festive season.

(With inputs from agencies)