A season of festivals, joy and happiness has already begun, with the whole world celebrating the pre-Christmas carnival.
While people in U.S. are seen sporting colorful, spooky costumes and enjoying the annual Halloween carnival; devotees in India are engrossed in celebrating one of the county's biggest festivals - Diwali.
The Indian festival of lights- Deepawali, popularly known as Diwali, is the biggest Hindu festival and is celebrated across the country.
The holy festival is not only limited to India, it is celebrated in various forms in various South-East Asian countries. There are several tales behind its origin; all of them symbolize the victory of good over evil.
The festivities begin around a month before Diwali; people decorate their homes and places of worship with lamps or candles and worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity.
This is perhaps the most exciting time for the children; not only because they get vacation time from educational institutions but also because it is all about prime-time shopping for people in India, from buying new clothes to jewellery and sweets, as well as carrying out major investments.
People invest massively in gold and silver during the festive season, considering it a good omen for the prosperity of the family.
Wishing all our readers a very Happy Diwali and Happy Halloween 2011.
A boy celebrates Diwali festival at a Hindu temple in Karachi. During Diwali celebrations, people decorate their homes and places of worship with lamps or candles and worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. ReutersA woman lights candles at a Hindu temple during Diwali prayers in Colombo. Prayers and offerings are made to Hindu gods and goddesses on the occasion of Diwali, the annual festival of lights.ReutersGlass bangles are seen at a roadside shop ahead of the Hindu festival of Diwali in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata.ReutersA vendor applies henna on the hand of a woman ahead of the Hindu festival of Diwali in New Delhi, India.ReutersPeople crowd at a roadside market place ahead of the Hindu festival of Diwali in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad.ReutersA labourer works at a firecracker factory on the outskirts of the northeastern Indian city of Siliguri . Firecrackers are in great demand ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.ReutersA potter paints clay lamps, which will be filled with oil and lit during the Lakshmi Puja and Diwali festivals, inside a workshop in Kolkata October 10, 2011. The annual Lakshmi Puja will be observed this year on October 11, and people across India will celebrate Diwali on October 26. ReutersVolunteers work inside a candle and lamp making workshop at a blind school ahead of the Hindu festival of Diwali in New Delhi . Candles and lamps are used during Diwali, the annual festival of lights, to decorate homes. ReutersThe holy Sikh shrine Golden Temple is illuminated during celebrations to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali, the festival of lights, in the northern Indian city of Amritsar.ReutersPeople light earthen lamps in a formation of the 'Swastika', a Hindu symbol of peace, a day before the Hindu festival of Diwali, the festival of lights, in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad . Lamps are traditionally used during Diwali, the annual Hindu festival of lights, to decorate homes.ReutersA devotee (L) lights a lamp at Akshardham temple during celebrations to mark the annual Hindu festival of Diwali at Gandhinagar in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Hindus decorate their homes and places of worship with lamps or candles and light fireworks during Diwali which literally means "rows of lights".ReutersA labourer works inside a candle-making factory in the northeastern Indian city of Siliguri. Candles are sold in large numbers during Diwali, the annual Hindu festival of lights, when people buy candles to decorate their homes. ReutersA Hindu family says a prayer after lighting oil lamps to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights. ReutersA girl lights an earthen lamp during celebrations on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in the eastern Indian city of Siliguri. Lamps are traditionally used during Diwali, the annual Hindu festival of lights, to decorate homes.ReutersA woman lights an earthen lamp during the celebrations on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. Lamps are traditionally used during Diwali, the annual Hindu festival of lights, to decorate homes.ReutersVisually impaired girls from the Andh Kalyan Kendra prepare wax-filled earthen lamps or "Kodiyas" for the forthcoming Diwali festival, the festival of lights - in western Indian city of Ahmedabad, October 18, 2011. Diwali will be celebrated across India on October 26. Reuters
