IN PICTURES: India marks Diwali with a BANG amid pollution concerns and a Supreme Court firework ban... while Modi visits J&K to see his 'family'

  • Diwali marks the return of Rama and Sita after 14 years Ramayana exile to the Indian town of Ayodhya 
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent the day with India's military for the fourth year in a row
  • Modi visited Gurez in the tinderbox of Jammu and Kashmir, where the troops of the 15 Corps are stationed 
  • See more news from India at www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome 

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Diwali, or Deepavali, the Hindu festival of light went off with a bang last night in Delhi despite the best efforts of India's top court.

As the major Hindu festival for more than a billion people in India and many more around the world, oil lamps and candles are lit to symbolize the victory of knowledge over ignorance, light over darkness and good over evil.

The festival marks the return of deities Rama and Sita in the epic Ramayana to the northern Indian town of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. But the festivities had been threatened by a ban on fireworks just a few days before the celebrations were set to kick off.

Residential buildings are decorated with colorful lights, as a firecracker lights up, during Diwali festival in New Delhi, India

Residential buildings are decorated with colorful lights, as a firecracker lights up, during Diwali festival in New Delhi, India

An Indian girl wears a mask while playing with firecrackers to celebrate Diwali in Hyderabad, India

An Indian girl wears a mask while playing with firecrackers to celebrate Diwali in Hyderabad, India

Vendors sell marigold flower garlands, commonly used to decorate homes and perform rituals, during Diwali festival in Allahabad, India

Vendors sell marigold flower garlands, commonly used to decorate homes and perform rituals, during Diwali festival in Allahabad, India

For most, Diwali is a community event and people visit friends' homes and exchange gifts. For others it is a change to make some noise and one of the oldest traditions is fireworks.

Fireworks or 'firecrackers' are a big industry across the country, and many people enjoy the evening sky being lit up by the festivities.

But this year India's apex court banned the sale of fireworks in New Delhi and nearby towns 10 days before, in a move to curb the capital's deadly air pollution.

Although impossible to ban completely, the use of firecrackers is being discouraged by both the government and environmentalists as air pollution levels across New Delhi and other major cities reach up to eight times what India deems acceptable, and 20 times the World Health Organisation's guidelines.

Worried by the impact on the health of children, the Supreme Court this year banned the sale of firecrackers in the capital and neighboring areas to prevent a toxic haze after the Diwali nights that has residents hiding indoors.

Children are more vulnerable to developing lung ailments including asthma and bronchitis, as well as damage to their nervous systems.

Yogi Adityanath (left), Chief Minister of India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, worships artists dressed as Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Laxman during Diwali

Yogi Adityanath (left), Chief Minister of India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, worships artists dressed as Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Laxman during Diwali

1.71 lakh lamps were lit up at the banks of river Sarayu in Ayodhya

1.71 lakh lamps were lit up at the banks of river Sarayu in Ayodhya

Supreme Court Ban 

In a move to curb the capital's deadly air pollution, the Supreme Court's ban was effective immediately from mid October and will lasts until Nov. 1. 

The ban has been received a mixed response with many commentators claiming that industry, garbage and traffic are to blame for the low-hanging smog in urban areas and not Diwali fireworks.

The court said it will assess whether a fireworks ban makes a difference to New Delhi's air, among the dirtiest in the world.

The court said people who have already bought fireworks can use them, but that new ones cannot be sold.

'What the court's order means is that all licenses to sell firecrackers stand canceled till Oct. 31,' said Haripriya Padmanabhan, a lawyer for the petitioners - three children aged between 18 and 26 months. 

Activists, however, fear people will smuggle fireworks in from neighboring states.

Last year, the Supreme Court stopped the sale of fireworks in and around New Delhi after a slew of petitions flagged the alarming rise in pollution levels after Diwali. 

Indian children play with firecrackers to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in New Delhi

Indian children play with firecrackers to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in New Delhi

Indians light a sky lantern to celebrate Diwali festival in New Delhi

Indians light a sky lantern to celebrate Diwali festival in New Delhi

A candle burns outside a home during Diwali festival in New Delhi, India

A candle burns outside a home during Diwali festival in New Delhi, India

Every year, in the days following the festival, city hospitals report a spike in respiratory and asthma cases and many people find it difficult to breathe.

After Diwali last year, schools were ordered closed for three days and people were advised to stay home. All construction and demolition work was banned for five days in the city due to the choking smog.

Last week, levels of lung-clogging particulate matter known as PM2.5 hovered above 170 micrograms per cubic meter in New Delhi - 20 times higher than what the World Health Organisation deems safe, and more than four times higher than India's own standard.

Diwali around the world

Everyone from Ivanka Trump to the characters of Sesame Street wished Hindu, Jain and Sikh community a happy Diwali.

British Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn used Twitter to speak of Diwali as an example of a victory of light over darkness; good versus evil, adding that he hoped this message would, 'reach every community'.

President Trump's daughter Ivanka shared a picture from inside the Oval Office and wished the world a 'joyful Diwali', adding that she's looking forward to visiting India later this year for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad.

In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent the day with India's military for the fourth year in a row. In what has become something of a tradition, Modi visited Gurez in the tinderbox of Jammu and Kashmir, where the troops of the 15 Corps are stationed.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during Diwali celebrations with military personnel stationed near the Line of Control in the Gurez Valley

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during Diwali celebrations with military personnel stationed near the Line of Control in the Gurez Valley

Modi gives out sweets to troops on the border with Pakistan

Modi gives out sweets to troops on the border with Pakistan

Prime Minister didn't miss the chance to celebrate his nation's forces and claimed that, like everyone else, he would be spending Diwali with his 'family'.

As part of a huge morale boost to the troops serving on the de facto border with Pakistan, Modi spent time with the troops and offered sweets, adding that he feels renewed when spending time among the jawans. 

According to NDTV, Modi used the visitors' book to write, 'Protecting the Motherland, far from your loved ones, displaying the highest traditions of sacrifice, all soldiers at the nation's borders, are symbols of bravery and dedication... The presence of brave soldiers at the border, on this festive occasion, lights the lamp of hope, and generates new energy among crores of Indians.'

Indians play with firecrackers during Diwali festival in New Delhi

Indians play with firecrackers during Diwali festival in New Delhi

Indians decorate their home with lamps during Diwali festival in New Delhi

Indians decorate their home with lamps during Diwali festival in New Delhi

Indian Sikh devotees gather during Diwali Festival at the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar

Indian Sikh devotees gather during Diwali Festival at the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar

An Indian woman Rishitha places earthen lamps or 'diyas' at her home on the eve of Diwali Festival in Hyderabad

An Indian woman Rishitha places earthen lamps or 'diyas' at her home on the eve of Diwali Festival in Hyderabad

An Indian child lights candles at the Madan Mohan Malviya stadium during Diwali Festival in Allahabad

An Indian child lights candles at the Madan Mohan Malviya stadium during Diwali Festival in Allahabad

Indian Sikh devotees gather during Diwali Festival at the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar

Indian Sikh devotees gather during Diwali Festival at the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar

An Indian child watches fireworks at the Madan Mohan Malviya stadium during Diwali Festival in Allahabad

An Indian child watches fireworks at the Madan Mohan Malviya stadium during Diwali Festival in Allahabad

Indians shop for decorative items on the eve of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Jammu

Indians shop for decorative items on the eve of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Jammu

Sri Lankan Hindu devotees offer prayers during Diwali Festival at a temple in Colombo

Sri Lankan Hindu devotees offer prayers during Diwali Festival at a temple in Colombo

A young Indian boy shops for firecrackers at a shop on the eve of Diwali festival in Amritsar

A young Indian boy shops for firecrackers at a shop on the eve of Diwali festival in Amritsar

A vendor waits for customers at his shop of lanterns at a market on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in New Delhi,

A vendor waits for customers at his shop of lanterns at a market on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in New Delhi,

A man puts lights in an alley the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in a slum in Mumbai

A man puts lights in an alley the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in a slum in Mumbai

A vendor shows decorative items to customers at his stall on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in New Delhi

A vendor shows decorative items to customers at his stall on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in New Delhi

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