Thousands of earthen lamps illuminated Srinagar's historic Lal Chowk during Diwali celebrations on Sunday, as a display of 11,000 diyas spelt out the message "Bharat Vishwa Guru". Locals, tourists, Kashmiri Pandits and students gathered near the iconic clock tower to celebrate the festival, with devotional songs, an evening aarti and a decorated Ram Rath adding to the festive atmosphere.
The square, which has witnessed protests and episodes of violence in the past, presented a different scene as people gathered around colourful rangolis and rows of illuminated lamps.
The celebrations drew families and visitors to the city centre, where many stopped to photograph the decorations and record videos. The historic clock tower was illuminated, while the surrounding area was decorated with lamps and festive displays.
Ram Rath from Karnataka adds to Diwali celebrations
A decorated Ram Rath, which had travelled from Karnataka to Kashmir, was among the attractions at Lal Chowk. An evening aarti was performed near the chariot as devotional hymns and chants of "Jai Shri Ram" echoed through the gathering.
Fireworks lit up the night sky at intervals, while people moved around the square to watch the celebrations.
Guru Deepak Sharma, who attended the event, described the gathering as an occasion that brought people together.
"It is a truly lovely experience; the atmosphere is beautiful, and one can see all of India united. I urge all my fellow countrymen to celebrate this festival together. There is a greater sense of brotherhood than ever before, and there is no fear. We wish for India’s culture to spread across the entire world," he said.
Security personnel were deployed at the venue as families, students and tourists gathered around the illuminated displays. Children were seen moving around the rows of diyas, while young visitors captured photographs and videos of the celebrations.
Visitors describe festive atmosphere at Lal Chowk
For several visitors, the celebrations offered an experience different from what they had previously heard about Lal Chowk.
Dr Sunita, who had travelled from Bihar, said she had not expected to witness such a gathering at the square.
"Seeing such scenes at Lal Chowk is completely unexpected for us. We had heard very different things about Lal Chowk, but this Diwali, we witnessed a picture of brotherhood here. It is difficult to distinguish between a Kashmiri and an outsider; everyone appears to be in a celebratory mood," she said.
The presence of people from different parts of the country was visible around the decorated square, where visitors joined residents in watching the lighting ceremony and other festivities.
The arrangement of 11,000 diyas carrying the message "Bharat Vishwa Guru" was a central feature of the event.
The festivities brought crowds to one of Srinagar's best-known public spaces, with visitors continuing to gather around the lamp displays and decorated Ram Rath.
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 "11,000 diyas illuminate Srinagar's Lal Chowk, spell out 'Bharat Vishwa Guru'")
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