ReligiondiwaliHinduism

Diwali Photos Capture The Brightness And Beauty Of The Festival Of Lights

PHOTOS: People Around The World Celebrate The Festival Of Lights
By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

October 23 is a very special day this year for millions of Hindus, Jains and Sikhs around the world. It marks the day of Diwali, the festival of lights, when the victory of light over dark and good over evil is celebrated.

All this week, people everywhere have been preparing for the festival, also known as Deepavali, and enjoying the food, lights and togetherness that come with the special day.

A central tradition of Diwali is the lighting of oil lamps. Firecrackers are also a common sight. Hindus also celebrate the day by cleaning and decorating their homes and distributing sweet treats; Sikhs read from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy text; Jains mark the festival by practicing acts of charity, among other traditions.

Scroll down to see photographs of Diwali revelers around the world. Here's wishing you and all your loved ones Shubh Diwali!

AP/Anupam Nath
An Indian woman carrying an infant looks at decorative items as she shops ahead of Diwali, in Gauhati, India, Tuesday, Oct. 21., 2014.
AP Photo/Altaf Qadri
A young Indian girl laughs as she plays with a firecracker during Diwali in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014.
Lai Seng Sin
Shoppers in a mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, walk past a piece of Indian traditional artwork known as "Kolam," a form of sandpainting, created to celebrate Diwali, on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014.
Praveen Bajpai/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Girls light earthen lamps on the eve of Diwali on Oct. 22, 2014 in Bhopal, India.
Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
A family enjoy sparklers on the eve of Diwali on Oct. 22, 2014 in New Delhi, India.
Shashi Sharma/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
Hundreds of widows celebrate Diwali at the banks of the Yamuna river in Vrindavan, India on Oct. 21., 2014.
AP Photo/Ajit Solanki
A blind girl in India arranges earthen lamp casings ahead of the Diwali festival in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014.
AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool
A child living in a shanty area jumps as he watches a firecracker light up during Diwali celebrations in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014.
AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool
Roadside vendors prepare garlands of marigold in the early morning of Diwali at a market in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Marigold flowers are popularly used as offerings and for rituals and decorations during Hindu festivals.
AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool
People in Mumbai, India, throng a market selling marigold flowers in the early morning of Diwali, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014.
AP Photo/Altaf Qadri
An Indian woman holds her child and watches a firecracker light up during Diwali in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014.
Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images
An Indian Sikh devotee holds a child as they take a dip in the holy sarover (water tank) during Diwali at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, on October 23, 2014.
AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool
Indians buy lanterns and lamps from roadside stalls ahead of Diwali in Mumbai, India, Monday, Oct. 20, 2014.
Sanjay Kanojia/AFP/Getty Images
An Indian streetfood vendor lights candles around the edge of his cart to celebrate Diwali in Allahabad, India, on October 23, 2014.
AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin
A Hindu devotee walks past statues of gods during Diwali at Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014.
Sanjay Kanojia/AFP/Getty Images
Indian children light fireworks as they celebrate Diwali in Allahabad, India, on October 23, 2014.
Prabhat Kumar Verma/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
Children in Allahabad, India, light candles at the Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium on Oct. 22, 2014, in celebration of Diwali.

Related

religiondiwaliHinduism
|
Submit a tip

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot