Diwali in Mumbai

I have been to Mumbai twice at different times of the year but never have I experienced a countrywide celebration such as Diwali until this trip.

Diwali to Hindus/Indians is the equivalent of Christmas to Christians/Catholics. It is a festive occasion overflowing with gifts, food, sweets, alcohol, parties, and most of all fireworks. And the Indians don’t do anything in small numbers… so it was everything x 10! You ate until you were stuffed and could eat no more, you drank the bottles dry, you partied like there was no tomorrow and then you woke up the next morning and did it all over again!

Unlike other celebrations around the world, Diwali is not just a daylong celebration but a weeklong one. It is a religious celebration more than anything else; a celebration that marks the triumph of Good over Evil, following which the Hindu God Ram returns home from exile. Diwali, the festival of lights, marks this return in all joy and glory, with a lot of lights, colours, lamps and fireworks.

Locals say that the fireworks this year were a lot milder than previous years, but I still think there was a LOT of it. The city’s primary celebratory venue, Marine Drive, was full of people and fireworks that went on for hours! Despite the bans on noise and fireworks, the local policemen had given up trying to control the hordes of people that had shown up there to join in the festivities. It was amusing to watch as they partook in the festivities and enjoyed the fireworks on display themselves. Who could begrudge them though; it was a festive time, and one of love, laughter and joy.

Whereas in most parts of the world you would witness a coordinated display of fireworks organized by the local government or council, here it was a case of individuals doing their own thing. There was no coordination or synchronization. I had to keep my eyes open and lens ready to capture all that was happening around me. While it was not possible to capture all that was happening, I was lucky enough to capture some of the beauty and magnificence of the fireworks.

Here are some snapshots of what I was able to capture during that festive season.