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November 13, 2012
Diwali 2012, the festival of lights

Diwali, popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a five-day festival which starts on Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi), celebrated on thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin. Diwali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.

For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of "Deepavali" which translates into "row of lamps". -- Wikipedia

(30 images)




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An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldier lights a candle inside a bunker as part of Diwali celebrations at the India-Bangladesh border on the outskirts of Agartala, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2013. Diwali, the festival of lights dedicated to the Goddess of wealth Lakshmi, is being celebrated across the country Tuesday. AP / Sushanta Das
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Indians light candles during the festival of Diwali outside a Sikh Gurudwara or temple in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Kevin Frayer
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An Indian family lights firecrackers during the festival of Diwali in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Kevin Frayer
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An Indian Sikh man look at candles lit during the festival of Diwali outside a Gurudwara, or Sikh temple, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Kevin Frayer
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A young Indian girl covers her ear as she is assisted by an adult to play with firecrackers during Diwali celebrations in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Altaf Qadri
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Indian men light firecrackers at a market place during Diwali celebrations in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Altaf Qadri
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Indian children play with firecrackers during Diwali in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Altaf Qadri
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An Indian Hindu boy lights firecrackers in a small alleyway during Diwali celebrations in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Altaf Qadri
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An elderly woman covers her ears as girls play with firecrackers during Diwali in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Altaf Qadri
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Elderly Indian women play with fireworks during Diwali in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Rafiq Maqbool
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People play with firecrackers during Diwali, the festival of lights, in Allahabad, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh
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An Indian man stands on his bicycle rickshaw after placing candles on it for good luck and fortune during the festival of Diwali in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Kevin Frayer
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A homeless Indian man prepares to sleep on the pavement surrounded by candles lit by a local merchant in front of a shop during the festival of Diwali in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Kevin Frayer
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An Indian boy lights candles in front of his family's business during the festival of Diwali in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Kevin Frayer
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An Indian Sikh boy prays with others after lighting candles during the festival of Diwali in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Kevin Frayer
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An Indian Hindu woman holds a tray filled with earthen lamps and steps out of the door during Diwali in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Altaf Qadri
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An Indian Hindu woman holds a tray filled with earthen lamps during Diwali celebrations in Allahabad, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh
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An Indian girl lights earthen lamps to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Allahabad, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh
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An Indian girl holds an earthen lamp and performs rituals on the banks of the Bindu Sagar to celebrate Diwali in Bhubaneswar, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Biswaranjan Rout
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A girl decorates the entrance of her home with earthen lamps and colored powder during Diwali festival in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Bikas Das
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Widows gather around a tulsi plant and light oil lamps to celebrate Diwali at a rest house run by a devotee in Bhubaneswar, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Biswaranjan Rout
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Commuters stop by a roadside vendor selling water lilies on Diwali in Allahabad, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh
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The child of a roadside flower vendor plays on a bed of marigolds for sale on Diwali in Allahabad, India, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh
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A firecracker lights up the sky as candles and lamps are seen lit across a field ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Allahabad, India, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh
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Indians light candles ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Allahabad, India, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh
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Hindu priests perform rituals as devotees gather around an idol of monkey god Hanuman during Hanuman Jayanti festival in Allahabad, India, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh
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An Indian member of a band performs during a religious procession ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, in Allahabad, India, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh
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An Indian girl tries to reach a lantern displayed for sale at roadside stalls ahead of Hindu festival of lights Diwali, in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. AP / Rafiq Maqbool
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An Indian girl lights an earthen lamp on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, in Ahmadabad, India. AP / Ajit Solanki
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An Indian man sells fake flowers for the upcoming Diwali holiday at a local market in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. AP / Kevin Frayer
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