Deepavali in Chennai

Deepavali (or Diwali as it’s known in the northern India) is a vivid, loud and energetic celebration, larger even than New Year’s festivities. People dress up, light candles outside their houses, set off firecrackers, dance and get wildly excited. This was my first experience of Deepavali in India and I’ve got say that the residents of Chennai’s Georgetown know how to party like crazy. Deepavali celebrations span a few days, so we followed the revellers across these days as they danced and partied amidst clouds of smoke.