Basit Zargar/Srinagar

Srinagar’s Lal Chowk area turned into an arena of harmony and hope asm people from all walks of life lit earthern lamps and fired crackers on Diwali night lifting up the mood and hsignalling the sustainability of peace and normalcy in the Kashmir Valley. 

Here is the story as captured by Basit Zargar through his lense:

Local youth participating in diya lighting at Lal Chowk

Lal Chowk has become a spot for the youth to avenge the challenge posed by the separatists and terrorists to the display of the national flag or any other icon that signifies Indianness.

A mother and her son lighting up diyas

Tourists and locals participated in this event in large numbers. Heartwarming videos emerged of people lighting diyas at the historic Ghanta Ghar in Srinagar's Lal Chowk in Jammu and Kashmir.

Panoramic scene of Diwali diya lighting

Organised by Paschim Sharada Peetham, the festival saw large number of participation from both locals and tourists.

Women participating in celebrating Diwali in Srinagar

Meanwhile, soldiers celebrated Diwali on the the borders with lighting diyas, dancing, and singing. A Sikh soldier's song in which he is speaking of a soldier's family's longing for their son on Diwali went viral of X:

#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir | An Indian Army soldier posted along the Line of Control (LoC) sings a song as he extends #Diwali2024🪔 wishes to the countrymen https://t.co/J1whf1R6V2 pic.twitter.com/Ftu3hzSAip

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2024

The soldiers burst crackers on the LOC

#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir | Indian Army soldiers posted along the Line of Control (LoC) burst crackers & lit earthen lamps

#Diwali2024 pic.twitter.com/IsvcQAZnKh

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2024