Reykjavík Lights - Diwali, Arctic Style
p.1 #1Reykjavík Lights - Diwali, Arctic Style
Diwali (Deepavali) this year falls on Sunday, November 8.
The Hindu festival is a celebration of light: the vanquishment of the forces of darkness both within us and without, the triumph of virtue over vice. It admits multiple interpretations, all united by this theme. Principal among these are Rama‘s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and His victory over Ravana, and Krishna‘s slaying of the demon Narakasura.
In the video below in the follow-up post, we have the capital of Iceland, covered in snow, seen from the heavens at twilight, with tiny points of illumination shimmering against the approaching darkness. Snow-clad Esja provides a magnificent natural backdrop.
This is Deepavali, Arctic style.
Beneath these lights lie the history & life of a nation entire. Everything Icelanders have experienced and accumulated over generations – births, deaths, marriages, ambitions, love, grief, joys, sorrows – is circumscribed within this little patch of land that glides past the airplane window in less than 30 seconds.
Esja has stood for millions of years, while the human metabolism below represents but a fleeting interlude in its history.
From my latest blog post.
Reykjavík, winter's twilight
The Hindu festival is a celebration of light: the vanquishment of the forces of darkness both within us and without, the triumph of virtue over vice. It admits multiple interpretations, all united by this theme. Principal among these are Rama‘s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and His victory over Ravana, and Krishna‘s slaying of the demon Narakasura.
In the video below in the follow-up post, we have the capital of Iceland, covered in snow, seen from the heavens at twilight, with tiny points of illumination shimmering against the approaching darkness. Snow-clad Esja provides a magnificent natural backdrop.
This is Deepavali, Arctic style.
Beneath these lights lie the history & life of a nation entire. Everything Icelanders have experienced and accumulated over generations – births, deaths, marriages, ambitions, love, grief, joys, sorrows – is circumscribed within this little patch of land that glides past the airplane window in less than 30 seconds.
Esja has stood for millions of years, while the human metabolism below represents but a fleeting interlude in its history.
From my latest blog post.
Reykjavík, winter's twilight
iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78 lens 7mm f/1.8 1/20s 640 ISO 0.0 EV
Nov 06, 2026 at 03:25 AM
p.1 #3Reykjavík Lights - Diwali, Arctic Style
Amazing drone view and wonderful catch for the night city
Nov 06, 2026 at 06:52 AM
p.1 #4Reykjavík Lights - Diwali, Arctic Style
junglialoh wrote:
Amazing drone view and wonderful catch for the night city
Thank you, Jung. The footage was taken from an airplane during a commercial flight.
Amazing drone view and wonderful catch for the night city
Thank you, Jung. The footage was taken from an airplane during a commercial flight.
Nov 06, 2026 at 11:02 AM