Diwali across India: Narendra Modi celebrates festival with soldiers; firecrackers burst beyond SC time frame

[caption id=“attachment_5517521” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Earthen lamps dotted houses and lights decked up buildings as people celebrated Diwali amid restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court on the bursting of firecrackers. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5517501” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and army chief General Bipin Rawat joined soldiers Wednesday on the occasion. PTI[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5517451” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Modi celebrated his Diwali with army and ITBP personnel in the icy terrain near the India-China border, saying their devotion to duty in the remote icy heights is enabling the strength of the nation. PTI[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5517511” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Sitharaman celebrated the occasion with Army personnel in remote posts in Arunachal Pradesh near the Sino-India border. PTI[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5517431” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Ram Ki Paidi, the centre stage of Deepotsav festivities in Ayodhya where South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook was the chief guest, dazzled with illuminated temples on the riverfront and several people visited it in the evening to celebrate Diwali. PTI[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5517441” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Draped in an elegant saree, Kim soaked in Diwali festivities in Ayodhya much to the delight of the people of this pilgrim town. The Korean First Lady Tuesday got a taste of Diwali as she was treated to a dazzling display of earthen lamps at Ram ki Paidi, where a record over 3 lakh diyas were lit in front of her. PTI[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5517571” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  In the National Capital, a thick haze engulfed the city on Wednesday night with the air quality deteriorating to the “very poor” category as Delhiites continued to burst firecrackers long after the deadline set by the Supreme Court, the authorities said. Eyeing rising pollution levels in cities across the country, the Supreme Court last month said people can burst firecrackers from 8 pm to 10 pm only on Diwali and other festivals. PTI[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5517421” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  The Golden Temple was illuminated with a newly-installed special lighting system and traditional diyas. It witnessed a huge rush of devotees who took a dip in its holy tank and offered prayers at the sanctum sanctorum and Akal Takht. PTI[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5517411” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Akshardham temple in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar was beautifully decorated on the occasion of Diwali on Tuesday. PTI[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5517461” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Indian Hindu businessmen performs a ritual in the ‘Chopda Pujan’ (the worshipping of account books) during Diwali at Swaminarayan Temple in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. PTI[/caption]