Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Pictures

Students light oil lamps around a "Rangoli", a traditional pattern made from colored powders and flower petals, outside their hostel to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Guwahati, India. REUTERS/Anuwar Hazarika
A lighting decoration during the Diwali festival in Kolkata, India. Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Indian Sikh devotees light candles as they mark Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
A woman holds a candle as she performs a special prayer inside the Hindu temple during Diwali celebrations in Kuala Lumpur. Mohd Samsul Mohd Said/Getty Images)
Participants light earthen oil lamps on the banks of the Sarayu river in an attempt to enter the Guinness World Records for the largest display of oil lamps during Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya, India. REUTERS/Pawan Kumar
Hindu Goddess Kali Idol at Puja Pandal during Diwali in Kolkata, India. Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto via Getty Images
A devotee lights oil lamps at a religious ceremony during the Diwali festival at a Hindu temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte
Indian residents watch fireworks at the Madan Mohan Malviya stadium on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Allahabad. SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images
Devotees light candles at a Gurdwara, or Sikh temple, during celebrations to mark Bandi Chhorh Divas, which coincides with Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Chandigarh, India. REUTERS/Ajay Verma
Indian Sikh devotees watch fireworks as they mark Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
Indians decorate their home with lamps during Diwali festival in New Delhi. AP Photo/Manish Swarup
A tenement block housing mostly fishermen families is illuminated with lights during Diwali in Mumbai. AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool
Candles burn during the Diwali Festival at the illuminated Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Temple in New Delhi. DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
A Hindu devotee performing a special prayer ahead of Diwali celebrations in Shah Alam, Malaysia. Mohd Samsul Mohd Said/Getty Images
Indian children watch fireworks at the Madan Mohan Malviya stadium during the Diwali Festival in Allahabad. SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images