PHOTO: AFP
Cows have been adorned with garlands, mehndi and bangles assembled, diyas and firecrackers gathered and Hindus across the world celebrate the biggest festival in the Hindu calendar, Diwali, the ‘Festival of Lights’.
People decorate the entrances of their homes and businesses with banana leaves and marigold flowers and light fire crackers to commemorate the festival which marks the victory over evil. We look at how Hindu devotees celebrate the festival as they worship cows, the goddess of wealth, Laxmi, and decorate their homes using garlands, oil lamps, candles and colourful light bulbs.
These pictures will get anyone in the festive spirit.
A boy picks marigold flowers used to make garlands and offer prayers for the Tihar festival, also called Diwali, in Kathmandu, Nepal October 29, 2016. PHOTO: Reuters
A woman speaks on her phone as she carries a basket filled with marigold flowers used to make garlands and offer prayers for the Tihar festival, also called Diwali, in Kathmandu, Nepal October 29, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
Umang Hutheesing (C), the executive director of the Hutheesing Heritage Foundation participates in the Dhanteras Puja (Worshipping Wealth' ceremony) at his Sheth Hutheesing Haveli in Ahmedabad on October 28, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
A Sri Lankan Hindu devotee holds an oil lamp while offering prayers during Diwali, the Festival of Lights, at a temple in Colombo on October 29, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
Sri Lankan Hindu devotees offer prayers during Diwali, the Festival of Lights, at a temple in Colombo on October 29, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
Sri Lankan Hindu devotees light oil lamps during Diwali, the Festival of Lights, at a temple in Colombo on October 29, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
A Tamil devotee offers prayers to a cow during a religious ceremony for Diwali or Deepavali festival at Ponnambalavaneshwaram Hindu temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka October 29, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
A sales person shows a gold ring to customers at a jewellery showroom during Dhanteras, a Hindu festival associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, in Ahmedabad, India, October 28, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
Indian street vendors sell artificial flowers at the roadside in the old city, ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Allahabad on October 28, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
A Nepalese policemen applies vermillion and flower garlands to a police dog during an event to mark the Tihar festival at the Central Police Dog Training School in Kathmandu on October 29, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
Nepalese police dogs pose as their handlers salute them during an event to mark the Tihar festival at the Central Police Dog Training School in Kathmandu on October 29, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
PHOTO: AFP
A Tamil devotee prays at a religious ceremony during the Diwali or Deepavali festival at Ponnambalavaneshwaram Hindu temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka October 29, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
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