Diwali: Festival of lights

Diwali, also known as the "festival of lights", was celebrated recently by Hindus throughout the world. Signifying light's triumph over darkness, the Diwali festival unfolds every autumn and coincides with the new moon of Hindu Lunisolar.  Below is a selection of photos from this year's festivities.

India Diwali

Fireworks light up the night sky during Diwali festival in Ajmer, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of Hinduism's most important festivals dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. (AP Photo Deepak Sharma)

India Diwali

Tenements housing mostly fishermen families are illuminated with lights to celebrate Diwali in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of Hinduism's most important festivals dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

India Diwali Festival

Indians buy lanterns and lamps from roadside stalls ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights in Mumbai, India, Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. Diwali will be celebrated is most parts of India on Oct. 23.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

India Hindu Festival

Indian potters stack earthen lamps on a hearth to harden them, ahead of Diwali festival in Allahabad, India,Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. People buy earthen lamps to decorate their homes during the Diwali festival of lights, which will be celebrated on October 23. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

India Diwali

Roadside vendors prepare garlands of marigold early morning at a market on Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Marigold flowers are popularly used as offerings and for rituals and decorations during Hindu festivals. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

India Diwali Festival

Children with special needs light firecrackers as they celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights at the Shishu Sarathi School in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Malaysia Hindu Festival

An artist applies henna on the hand of a Malaysian ethnic Indian girl for the upcoming Diwali, or the Hindu festival of lights in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. The festival falls on Oct. 22. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)

India Diwali Festival

An Indian potter prepares to burn dried earthen lamps in an oven to make them durable ahead of Diwali festival at the Basantpur village on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, India, Wednesday, Oct.15, 2014. The earthen lamps are in demand during the Diwali festival when people buy them to light up their homes. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout)

India Diwali Festival

A young Indian girl laughs as she plays with a firecracker during Diwali, the festival of lights, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Diwali is one of Hinduism's most important festivals dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

India Hindu Festival

An Indian man dressed as monkey god Hanuman walks in a procession on the eve of Diwali in Allahabad, India, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. The day before Diwali, the festival of lights, is a significant Hanuman worship day for Hindus. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Malaysia Hindu Festival

A Hindu devotee walks past god statues during Diwali, or the Hindu festival of lights, at Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)

India Diwali

Indians play with firecrackers to celebrate Diwali in Allahabad, India,Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of Hinduism's most important festivals dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. (AP Photo/ Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Pakistan Dewali Festival

A Pakistani girl from Hindu community holds a clay lamp during the Diwali celebrations at a local temple in Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of Hinduism's most important festivals dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Malaysia Hindu Festival

A Hindu devotee offers a prayer in front of a god statue of Meenakshi Amman during Diwali, or the Hindu festival of lights, at Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)

India Diwali

Girls light lamps outside their homes in a tenement illuminated with lights during Diwali festival in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Hindus light up their homes and light firecrackers to mark Diwali, the festival of lights, dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

APTOPIX India Diwali

A child living in a shanty area jumps as he watches a firecracker light up during Diwali celebrations in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of Hinduism's most important festivals dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

See these photos on apimages.com

Lead Image Caption: A Hindu devotee walks past god statues during Diwali, or the Hindu festival of lights, at Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)

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