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Published 31 Oct, 2016 03:56pm

Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrated with smiles

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The Hindu community celebrated its five-day long festival of lights, Diwali, starting Sat??????

Thousands of lamps are lit inside and outside every home and participants exchange gifts and offer prayers. 'Prashad' or sweets are given to all devotees.

Diwali is considered auspicious for shopping, inauguration of new homes, business deals or for beginning new ventures and projects.

Why is it celebrated? what is the purpose? when did it start? when will it end?

The owner of an Indian brokerage house offers a puja before the start of Muhurat Trading, a special trading session on the occasion of Diwali. — AFP

The owner of an Indian brokerage house offers a puja by sprinkling holy water onto ancestral coins before the start of Muhurat Trading. — AFP
Indian children play with sparklers as they celebrate Diwali. — AFP
Indian Sikh devotees lighting candles during Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar — AFP
Indian Sikh devotees lighting candles during Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, at the Golden Temple.— AFP
Indian Sikh devotees lighting candles during Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali.—AFP
Indian Sikh devotees lighting candles during Diwali.—AFP
Indian Sikh devotees lighting candles during Diwali.—AFP
A Pakistani Hindu family offers prayers and light candles as they mark Diwali.—AFP
A Pakistani Hindu family offers prayers and light candles as they mark Diwali.—AFP
A woman makes rangoli during Diwali celebrations in Leicester, Britain.—Reuters
Indian devotees light candles at a Gurdwara, or Sikh temple, during celebrations to mark Bandi Chhorh Divasin Chandigarh.—Reuters
People decorate their houses with lanterns and lights as they celebrate Diwali in Mumbai.—Reuters
A Hindu woman lights a firecrackers with her daughter to celebrate Diwali.—AP
People play with firecrackers to celebrate Diwali.—AP
Indians play with firecrackers during Diwali festival.—AP
An Indian girl plays with firecrackers during Diwali.—AP
People hold sky lanterns to release during a campaign against the use of firecrackers during Diwali.—AP
Indian children play with firecrackers to celebrate Diwali.—AP
Indians play with firecrackers during Diwali.—AP
Indians play with firecrackers to celebrate Diwali.—AP
Indian street children play with firecrackers to celebrate Diwali.—AP
Indians maneuver their way past firecrackers being burst on a street during Diwali.—AP
An elderly man offers sweets to an image of Hindu Goddess Lakshmi during Diwali.—AP
A man lights firecrackers to celebrate Diwali.—AP
A woman from the Hindu community holds earthen oil lamps while taking part in a ceremony to celebrate the Diwali.—AP

![A woman lights firecrackers to celebrate Diwali.—AP19

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