Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is the festival of lights, a holiday celebrated by over one billion Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs in South Asia and around the world. For Hindus, it is the day that Rama, a figure in Hindu mythology, returned from his 14-year exile to his home in Ayodha. For Jains, adherents of the sage Mahavir, it commemorates the day that he attained Moksha, or enlightenment. Sikhs celebrate Diwali as the day that the guru Hargobind and 52 princes were released from prison by the Mughal Emperor Jehangir. To celebrate, people put up diyas, or lights, to commemorate the occasion. The celebration lasts five days, with fireworks, sweets, gift-giving, and family gatherings. Typically, Diwali is celebrated in late October through early November, depending on the lunar calendar.
Sri Lankan Hindus offer prayers during Diwali at a Hindu temple in Colombo on Oct. 26.
547946_111026_2pk2.jpg
Indian Sikh devotees light candles as they pay their respects at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Oct. 26.
547947_111026_3pk2.jpg
Gurmeet Singh and Puneet Kaur lights lamps as they pay their respects at the illuminated Sikh Shrine in Amritsar on Oct. 26.
547948_111026_4pk2.jpg
Fireworks explode on a road in Hyderabad on Oct. 26.
547949_111026_6pk2.jpg
Children watch as Indian Border Security Force personnel light lamps to place before an idol of the goddess Kali as they celebrate Diwali at the Fulbari Border outpost at the India-Bangladesh border on the outskirts of Siliguri on Oct. 26.
547950_111026_7pk2.jpg
An Indian woman buys marigolds at a market on the eve of Diwali in Hyderabad on Oct. 26. People typically decorate the entrances to their homes and businesses with banana leaves and marigolds during the holiday.
547951_111026_8pk2.jpg
An Indian vendor selling earthenware diyas waits for customers at a roadside stall in New Delhi on Oct. 26.
547952_111026_9pk2.jpg
A Sri Lankan Hindu priest offers prayers during Diwali at a temple in Colombo on Oct. 26.
547953_111026_10pk2.jpg
A Nepalese Hindu woman offers fruit to a cow, regarded as an incarnation of the Hindu goddess of prosperity, Laxmi, in Kathmandu on Oct. 26. Hindus across Nepal worship cows on the third day of the Tihar (or Diwali) festival.
547954_111026_11pk2.jpg
Indian farmer Bhagwanbhai Patel checks the quality of Dutch roses at Vandan Floritech greenhouse in the village of Kasindra, around 15 miles from Ahmedabad on the eve of Diwali on Oct. 25. During Diwali, the demand for flowers increases as they are given as gifts.
547955_111026_12pk2.jpg
An Indian artist, Mulee, paints an idol of the Hindu goddess Laxmi at her workshop in Amritsar ahead of Diwali on Oct. 19.
More from The World in Photos This WeekRock the VoteFace OffPreparing for a Very Cold War
In her role as administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Samantha Power is often thrust into the forefront of some of the world’s biggest crises. From working to ensu...Show morere that Russia honors a U.N.-brokered deal to ship grain from Ukraine to helping to figure out how to get aid to cash-strapped Sri Lanka, Power plays an important role in everyday U.S. foreign policy.
How can the world solve the ongoing food crisis? How can Ukraine win the war? How can democracy be strengthened amid an autocratic surge?
Join FP editor in chief Ravi Agrawal for a wide-ranging interview with Power. As always, FP subscribers will have an opportunity to ask questions live.
This FP Live interview has been postponed and will be rescheduled for the fall.
Last summer, the United States decided to end its longest war. But just days after the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan, Kabul fell—and the Taliban took control of the country. Aug....Show more 15 will mark one year since the group has been in power.
How are Afghans coping with their new rulers? What are the internal policy spats within the Taliban? Has the international community done enough to assist Afghans? What does the future hold for the country?
For answers, watch FP editor in chief Ravi Agrawal's in-depth discussion with Lynne O’Donnell, a columnist for FP detained by the Taliban in late July, and Michael Kugelman, the writer of FP’s weekly South Asia Brief.
Want the inside scoop on Russian arms sales to Africa? Care to learn more about how Ukraine is arming itself and how Beijing views Washington’s support for Taiwan?
FP subscribers are alrea...Show moredy familiar with the work of Amy Mackinnon, Jack Detsch, and Robbie Gramer. Join them in conversation with FP’s Ravi Agrawal on August 9 at noon EDT to get a behind-the-scenes look at the biggest stories in global affairs.