Without pomp and fireworks, it’s a different kind of Diwali
The Akshardham temple is illuminated with some 10,000 oil lamps on the eve of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Gandhinagar, some 30 kms from Ahmedabad on November 13, 2020.
The celebrants avoided crowded parties and mingling following a directive from the Hindu Council of Kenya (HCK) to observe the Covid-19 health protocols.
Ordinarily, Kenyans would have witnessed bustling lit-up markets and processions in the streets with colourful carriages, but now, everyone is social-distancing.
This year’s Diwali celebrations, which happened Saturday night, were quite low-key, devoid of the pomp and colour, fireworks and crackers that characterise the annual Hindu festivities.
The festival is normally celebrated with a lot of fanfare, including card parties, with the faithful catching up with their relatives and performing ceremonial worship (poojas).
