Photo of the Day 319

Diwali Observance, Jaipur, India, 2001

Photograph by Joe McNally

Two women observe Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at the ancient palace of the maharaja in Jaipur. The festival lasts five days and celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. During Diwali, buildings and waterways are lit with candles and oil lamps, the earliest forms of artificial lighting after campfires.

(Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Power of Light," October 2001, National Geographic magazine)

Photo of the Day 217

Tie-Dyed Fabric, Jaipur, India, 1999

Photograph by Cary Wolinsky

Tie-dyed fabric is hung to dry from a roof in Jaipur, India. Such Indian textiles are among the richest craft legacies on Earth, encompassing literally thousands of local styles and techniques.

(Text adapted from and photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Quest for Color," July 1999, National Geographic magazine)