Fireworks at Dashehra Diwali Mela by Matthew Orlinski

Captured during the vibrant Dashehra Diwali Mela in Manchester, this photograph documents the dramatic moment fireworks illuminate the sky above the burning effigy of the ten-headed demon king, Ravan. Matthew Orlinski skillfully balances the intense, flickering light of the pyrotechnics against the dark, festive atmosphere of the celebration. The image is award-worthy for its ability to freeze a fleeting, culturally significant event with technical precision, transforming a chaotic public spectacle into a composed, evocative narrative of light, tradition, and urban energy.