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Diwali: The festival of lights

Diwali, a national holiday in India, is also celebrated by a number of other countries around the world.

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Devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu as part of Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. Ayodhya is believed to be the birthplace of Hindu God Rama and
Devotees light masses of twinkling 'diyas', earthenware oil lamps, on the banks of the River Sarayu as part of Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya, India. Ayodhya is believed to be the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram. Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated in honour of the return of Ram and his wife Sita to Ayodhya after an exile of 14 years. [Nadeem Khan/AP Photo]
Published On 19 Oct 2017

Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is the biggest festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists around the world.

People from all walks of life decorate their homes with “diyas”, earthenware oil lamps, and candles.

Also known as Deepavali in India, the five-day festival is celebrated to commemorate the return of Ram, the lord of virtue, to his kingdom after 14 years of exile.

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For many in India, it also marks the end of the harvest season and is the chance to give thanks to Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity.

While the story behind Diwali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region, the festival is celebrated to remember that light triumphs over dark and good triumphs over evil.

Members of an Indian Hindu family light earthen lamps on a rangoli, a hand decorated pattern on the floor, as part of Diwali festivities in Ahmadabad, India, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. Diwali, the festi
Members of an Indian Hindu family light earthen lamps on a rangoli, a hand decorated pattern on the floor, as part of Diwali festivities in Ahmedabad, India. [Ajit Solanki/AP Photo]
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Indian customers look at decorative items ahead of Diwali festival at a roadside stall in Amritsar on October 16, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Im
Indian customers look at decorative items ahead of the Diwali festival at a roadside stall in Amritsar. [Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images]
A devotee lights oil lamps at a religious ceremony during the Diwali or Deepavali festival at a Hindu temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka October 18, 2017. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYA d
A devotee lights oil lamps at a religious ceremony during the Diwali festival at a Hindu temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka. [Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters]
A woman picks marigold flowers used to make garlands and offer prayers, before selling them to the market for the Tihar festival, also called Diwali, in Kathmandu, Nepal October 17, 2017. REUTERS/Nave
A woman picks marigold flowers used to make garlands and offer prayers, before selling them to the market for the Tihar festival, also known as Diwali, in Kathmandu, Nepal. [Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters]
An Indian woman Nikitha places earthen lamps or ''diyas'' at the entrance of her home on the eve of Diwali Festival in Hyderabad on October 18, 2017. Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, marks the triu
Nikitha places small 'diyas' at the entrance of her home on the eve of the Diwali festival in Hyderabad, India. [Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images]
An Indian vendor displays sweets for sale on Diwali, the festival of lights, in Allahabad, India, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. Hindus light lamps, wear new clothes, exchange sweets and gifts and pray to g
An Indian vendor displays sweets for sale for the festival of lights, Diwali, in Allahabad, India. [Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP Photo]
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A man makes earthen lamps which are used to decorate temples and homes during the Hindu festival of Diwali, at a workshop in Ahmedabad, India October 10, 2017. REUTERS/Amit Dave
A man makes earthen lamps which are used to decorate temples and homes during the Hindu festival of Diwali, at a workshop in Ahmedabad, India. [Amit Dave/Reuters]