Diwali, Festival of Lights, Celebrated in Pictures

The traditional lighting of oil lamps during the 'Deep Utsav or Light festival' in Dhaka. Diwali marks the homecoming of the God Lord Ram after vanquishing the demon king Ravana and symbolizes taking people from darkness to light and the victory of good over evil. Zakir Hossain Chowdhury/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Devotees light candles at a Gurdwara, or Sikh temple, during celebrations to mark Bandi Chhorh Divas, which coincides with the Hindu festival of Diwali, in Chandigarh, India. REUTERS/Ajay Verma
A girl lights candles inside a cricket stadium on the eve of Diwali in Allahabad, India. REUTERS/Jitendra Prakash
An Indian Sikh devotee bathes in the holy sarovar on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
A girl from the Hindu community holds earthen oil lamps to celebrate the Diwali festival, in Karachi, Pakistan. Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of Hinduism's most important festivals dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. AP Photo/Shakil Adil
A young Hindu priest crawls under a cow during a religious ceremony celebrating the Tihar festival, also called Diwali, in Kathmandu, Nepal. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
People light lamps arranged to form a tribute to fallen soldiers of the Indian Army, on the eve of Diwali, in Chandigarh, India. REUTERS/Ajay Verma
A devotee lights lamps at the Akshardham temple during celebrations on the eve of Diwali in Gandhinagar, India. REUTERS/Amit Dave
Children watch firecrackers being lit on the eve of Diwali at an orphanage in Jammu, India. AP Photo/Channi Anand
A cow adorned with garlands and smeared with vermilion powder during a religious ceremony celebrating the Tihar festival, also called Diwali, in Kathmandu. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
A woman from the Hindu community holds an earthen oil lamp while taking part in a ceremony to celebrate Diwali at Krishna temple in Lahore, Pakistan. AP Photo/K.M. Chaduary
A devotee lights lamps at the Akshardham temple during celebrations on the eve of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Gandhinagar, India. REUTERS/Amit Dave
A Bangladeshi Hindu woman lights oil lamps during the 'Deep Utsav or Light festival' ahead of the Diwali festival in Dhaka. Zakir Hossain Chowdhury/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
A view of Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium decorated with oil lamps on the occasion of Diwali festival in Allahabad. Prabhat Kumar Verma/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
Girls make rangoli on the occasion of Diwali festival in Allahabad. Prabhat Kumar Verma/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
Lanterns and decorative items hang on display at a market on the eve of Diwali in Jammu, India. AP Photo/Channi Anand
Indians light lamps at Akshardham temple on the eve of Diwali in Gandhinagar, India. AP Photo/Ajit Solanki
A family from the Hindu community light firecrackers to celebrate Diwali festival in Karachi, Pakistan. AP Photo/Shakil Adil
An Indian Sikh devotee bathes in the holy sarovaron on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
A police dog smeared with vermilion powder as part of Tihar celebrations, also called Diwali, at the Central Police Dog Training School in Kathmandu. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
Indian athletes watch fireworks at the Madan Mohan Malviya stadium on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Allahabad. SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images