Image: 1867 CE chromolithograph, Diwali, feast of lamps, by William Simpson
Description: This 19th-century painting of Diwali / Dipavali / Divali / Dipotsava by William Simpson is archived at the British Library. Description from the source, "This chromolithograph is taken from plate 50 of William Simpson's 'India: Ancient and Modern'. The picture is suffused with the yellow glow of lamps in the gathering dusk; a woman is pictured leaning to light a lamp in a little niche at a street corner. Diwali, the Festival of Light, was marked ceremonially by the lighting of many such earthen lamps - diyas - all over India. The festival extended for five days during the lunar month of Kartika (October/November). It celebrated many things, such as the return of Rama and Sita from exile (as told in the Ramayana), the victory of Vishnu in avatar form over King Bali and minor deities such as Lakshmi, the goddess responsible for wealth and good fortune."
Title: 1867 CE chromolithograph, Diwali, feast of lamps, by William Simpson
Credit: http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/other/019xzz000000108u00050000.html
Author: Simpson, William (1823-1899)
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No
Image usage
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