Nov 5, 2013

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is a five-day Hindu festival of lights that this year begins Nov. 3. The holiday is often associated with India but it is also observed in countries across Europe and Asia. It covers a lot of bases, including the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the new financial year for Indian businesses.

: Chefs cook traditional food on the strets to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali on November 3, 2013 in Leicester, United Kingdom. Up to 35,000 people attended the Diwali festival of light in Leicester’s Golden Mile in the heart of the city’s Asian community. The festival is an opportunity for Hindus to honour Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and other gods. Leicester’s celebrations are one of the biggest in the world outside India. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

: A man wearing a ‘Happy Diwali’ hat dances in the street as thousands celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali on November 3, 2013 in Leicester, United Kingdom. Up to 35,000 people attended the Diwali festival of light in Leicester’s Golden Mile in the heart of the city’s Asian community. The festival is an opportunity for Hindus to honour Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and other gods. Leicester’s celebrations are one of the biggest in the world outside India. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

: Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre is illuminated to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali on November 3, 2013 in Leicester, United Kingdom. Up to 35,000 people attended the Diwali festival of light in Leicester’s Golden Mile in the heart of the city’s Asian community. The festival is an opportunity for Hindus to honour Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and other gods. Leicester’s celebrations are one of the biggest in the world outside India. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

: Young children hold sparklers as the home of the Barut family is decorated to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali on November 3, 2013 in Leicester, United Kingdom. Up to 35,000 people attended the Diwali festival of light in Leicester’s Golden Mile in the heart of the city’s Asian community. The festival is an opportunity for Hindus to honour Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and other gods. Leicester’s celebrations are one of the biggest in the world outside India. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

: A woman decorates the pavement outside her home with sand, known as rangoli art, to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali on November 3, 2013 in Leicester, United Kingdom. Up to 35,000 people attended the Diwali festival of light in Leicester’s Golden Mile in the heart of the city’s Asian community. The festival is an opportunity for Hindus to honour Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and other gods. Leicester’s celebrations are one of the biggest in the world outside India. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

: A woman struggles with her scarf in high winds during Diwali celebrations at Bhaktivedanta Manor on November 3, 2013 in Watford, United Kingdom. The festival is an opportunity for Hindus to honour Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and other gods. Leicester’s celebrations are one of the biggest in the world outside India. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

: Offerings are made in the temple during Diwali celebrations at Bhaktivedanta Manor on November 3, 2013 in Watford, United Kingdom. The festival is an opportunity for Hindus to honour Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and other gods. Leicester’s celebrations are one of the biggest in the world outside India. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

: Indian Hindu devotees offer prayers to the sun during The Chhat Festival on the banks of the River Brahmaputra in Guwahati on November 19, 2012. The Chhat festival is mainly observed by people of eastern part of the country, where devotees pray to the sun and water Gods eight days after Diwali, the festival of lights. (Biju Boro/AFP/Getty Images)

: An Indian craftsman paints clay ‘diyas’ (earthen lamps) ahead of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Amritsar on October 29, 2013. Diwali, celebrated this year on November 3 marks the victory of good over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu God Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his Kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. (Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images)

: Indian volunteers of a social organisation release sky lanterns to promote a peaceful and eco-friendly Diwali and create awareness against child labour in the fire cracker industry during a function in Kolkata on October 30, 2013. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya. (Dibyangshu Sarka/AFP/Getty Images)

: Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel light candles at the India-Bangladesh border crossing at Akhaura in Agartala, the capital of northeastern Indian state of Tripura, on the eve of Diwali on November 2, 2013. Diwali marks the homecoming of the Hindu god Lord Ram after vanquishing the demon king Ravana and symbolises taking people from darkness to light and the victory of good over evil. (Arindam Deyar/AFP/Getty Images)

: An Indian boatman lights earthen lamps placed on his boat during Diwali celebrations in Allahabad on November 3, 2013. Diwali marks the homecoming of the Hindu god Lord Ram after vanquishing the demon king Ravana and symbolises taking people from darkness to light and the victory of good over evil. (Sanjay Kanokia/AFP/Getty Images)

: Earthen lamps are lit at the Sangam at dusk during Diwali celebrations in Allahabad on November 3, 2013. Diwali marks the homecoming of the Hindu god Lord Ram after vanquishing the demon king Ravana and symbolises taking people from darkness to light and the victory of good over evil. (Sanjay Kanojia/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pakistani minority Hindus celebrate Diwali with fireworks in Lahore on November 3, 2013. Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated with jubilation and enhusiasm as one of the biggest Hindu festivals. People decorate their homes with flowers and Diyas (earthen lamps), celebrate the homecoming of the God Ram after vanquishing the demon king Ravana and honour the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. (Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images)

: An Indian reveller lights earthen lamps during Diwali celebrations in Allahabad on November 3, 2013. Diwali marks the homecoming of the Hindu god Lord Ram after vanquishing the demon king Ravana and symbolises taking people from darkness to light and the victory of good over evil. (Sanjay Kanojia/AFP/Getty Images)

: Members of the traditional Sikh religious warriors’ Nihang Army perform the martial art known as Gatka during ‘Fateh Divas’ in Amritsar on November 4, 2013. The Sikh celebration of the return of the sixth Guru Hargobind from detention in the Gwalior Fort known as Bandi Chhorh Divas, which coincides with Hindu festival of Diwali, marks the day Guru Hargobind had agreed to his release on the condition that the other fifty-two vassal kings who were detainees would also be released. (Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images)

: Sonal Mistry (centre, on R) shows off her engagement ring after Jay Morjaria (centre, on L) proposed marriage to her during Diwali celebrations in Leicester, November 3, 2013. Diwali celebrations in Leicester are one of the biggest outside of India, with up to 35,000 people attending celebrations in the heart of the city’s Asian community, according to the Leicester City Council website. (Darren Staples/Reuters)

: A girl runs with a firecracker, celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali, the annual festival of lights, in Mumbai November 3, 2013. (Danish Siddiqui/Reuters)

: People decorate their houses with lanterns and lights as they celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali, the annual festival of lights, in Mumbai November 3, 2013. (Danish Siddiqui/Reuters)

: Indian businessmen write religious verses on their record-keeping books as part of a ritual to worship the Hindu deity of wealth Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad November 3, 2013. The ritual known also as “Muhurat trading” is considered auspicious by traders and marks the beginning of the new trading year for the Gujarati community in India, who form the bulk of share brokers and businessmen in India. (Amit Dave/Reuters)

: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building is illuminated during the Diwali special trading session celebrating the annual Hindu festival of lights in Mumbai November 3, 2013. India’s benchmark BSE share index rose to a second consecutive record high in a special trading session on Sunday, led by gains in Indian Bank, Tata Motors and ONGC on expectations of better quarterly earnings, while strong foreign flows continued to boost sentiment. (Danish Siddiqui/Reuters)

: Newari youths play traditional drums during the Newari New Year parade that falls during the Tihar festival also called Diwali in Kathmandu November 4, 2013. The Newar community in Nepal observes the start of their Newari New Year 1134, in accordance with their national lunar calendar, by worshipping their spiritual selves in a ritual known as “mahapuja”. (Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

: Newari women in traditional attire play traditional instruments during the Newari New Year parade that falls during the Tihar festival also called Diwali in Kathmandu November 4, 2013. The Newar community in Nepal observes the start of their Newari New Year 1134, in accordance with their national lunar calendar, by worshipping their spiritual selves in a ritual known as “mahapuja”. (Navesh Chitrakar/Retuers)

: Sacred threads tied by devotees are seen on the tail of a cow during a religious ceremony in Kathmandu November 3, 2013. Hindus all over Nepal are celebrating the Tihar festival also called Diwali during which they worship cows, which are considered a maternal figure, and other animals. Also known as the festival of lights, devotees also worship the goddess of wealth Laxmi by illuminating and decorating their homes using garlands, oil lamps, candles and colourful light bulbs. (Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

: A devotee offers prayers to a cow during a religious ceremony in Kathmandu November 3, 2013. Hindus all over Nepal are celebrating the Tihar festival also called Diwali during which they worship cows, which are considered a maternal figure, and other animals. Also known as the festival of lights, devotees also worship the goddess of wealth Laxmi by illuminating and decorating their homes using garlands, oil lamps, candles and colourful light bulbs. (Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

: Members of the Pakistani Hindu community stand around a “rangoli,” traditional patterns made from coloured powders, during Diwali celebrations at the Shree Swami Narayan Temple in Karachi, November 3, 2013. Prayers and offerings are made to Hindu deities on Diwali, the annual festival of lights. (Insiya Syed/Reuters)

: A member from the Pakistani Hindu community Rasheeda, 32, creates a “rangoli,” traditional patterns made from coloured powders, during Diwali celebrations at the Shree Swami Narayan Temple in Karachi, November 3, 2013. Prayers and offerings are made to Hindu deities on Diwali, the annual festival of lights. (Insiya Syed/Reuters)

: A temple priest adjusts the shield on a Goddess Durga statue at Veeramakaliamman Hindu temple in Singapore October 31, 2013. The Hindu community will celebrate the Festival of Lights known as Diwali or Deepavali, on November 2. (Edgar Su/Reuters)

Diwali 2013: Hindu Festival of Lights

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