Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India — and for Hindus in particular.
It is celebrated across faiths by more than a billion people in the world’s most populous nation and the diaspora. Over five days, people take part in festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts and prayer.
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FILE- An Indian potter makes earthen lamps ahead of Diwali festival in Prayagraj, India, Oct. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, File)
FILE- Morning haze envelops the skyline the day after tens of thousands of people set off massive firecrackers to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali in New Delhi, India, Nov. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File)
FILE- Children play with firecrackers during Diwali celebrations in New Delhi, India, Nov. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File)
FILE- An Indian family lights firecrackers to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Prayagraj, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, Oct. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, File)
FILE- People lights firecrackers to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, in Ahmedabad, India, Oct. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki, File)
FILE- Hindu women light oil lamps at the Banganga pond as they celebrate Dev Diwali festival in Mumbai, India, Nov. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)
FILE- People crowd a market as they shop ahead of Diwali festival in Mumbai, India, Nov. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)
FILE- A residential building is decorated with lanterns and lights during Diwali, the festival of lights in Mumbai, India, Nov. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)
A record 2.51 million earthen oil lamps are lit along the Saryu river during Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of Diwali, creating a new Guinness World Record, in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Fire crackers and smoke fill the city skyline as a part of Diwali celebrations at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.(AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Diwali is derived from the word “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.” Celebrants light rows of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling in late October or early November.
This year, the holiday is being celebrated on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. In the U.S., Diwali falls on Halloween this year, which has triggered quite a few #Diwaloween memes on social media where some celebrants can be seen lighting diyas in their scary costumes or handing out laddoos to trick-or-treaters.
While Diwali is a major religious festival for Hindus, it is also observed by Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. The origin story of Diwali varies depending on the region. All these stories have one underlying theme — the victory of good over evil.
In southern India, Diwali celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna’s destruction of the demon Naraka who is said to have imprisoned women and tormented his subjects. In northern India, Diwali honors the triumphant return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana, from a 14-year exile in the forest.
The festival brings with it a number of unique traditions, which also vary by the region. What all celebrations have in common are the lights, fireworks, feasting, new clothes and praying.
—In southern India, many have an early morning warm oil bath to symbolize bathing in the holy River Ganges as a form of physical and spiritual purification.
—In the north, worshipping the Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes wealth and prosperity, is the norm.
Gambling is a popular tradition because of the belief whoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the year. Many people buy gold on the first day of Diwali, known as Dhanteras — an act they believe will bring them good luck.
Setting off firecrackers is a cherished tradition, as is exchanging sweets and gifts among friends and family. Diwali celebrations typically feature rangoli, which are geometric, floral patterns drawn on the floor using colorful powders. This year, several northern Indian states, including the capital New Delhi, are instituting partial or total fireworks bans to combat rising pollution levels during Diwali.
Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs have their own Diwali stories:
—Jains observe Diwali as the day the Lord Mahavira, the last of the great teachers, attained nirvana, which is liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
—Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas — a day that overlaps with Diwali — to commemorate the release of Guru Hargobind, a revered figure in the faith, who had been imprisoned for 12 years by the Mughal emperor Jahangir.
—Buddhists observe the day as one when the Hindu Emperor Ashoka, who ruled in the third century B.C., converted to Buddhism.
This year, Mattel has released its “Barbie Signature Diwali Doll” by designer Anita Dongre who wrote on Instagram that her Barbie represents “the fashion-forward modern women who wears India on her sleeve with pride.”
In contrast to her earliest iteration in 1996 who was clad in a bright pink sari or the 2012 avatar who was packaged with a “monkey friend,” Diwali Barbie is fashionably dressed in a lehnga, an ankle length embroidered skirt with motifs from Dongre’s home state of Rajasthan, a cropped blouse and vest.
This doll, priced at $40, sold out on day one on Mattel’s website.
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
FILE- An Indian potter makes earthen lamps ahead of Diwali festival in Prayagraj, India, Oct. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, File)
FILE- Morning haze envelops the skyline the day after tens of thousands of people set off massive firecrackers to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali in New Delhi, India, Nov. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File)
FILE- Children play with firecrackers during Diwali celebrations in New Delhi, India, Nov. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File)
FILE- An Indian family lights firecrackers to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Prayagraj, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, Oct. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, File)
FILE- People lights firecrackers to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, in Ahmedabad, India, Oct. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki, File)
FILE- Hindu women light oil lamps at the Banganga pond as they celebrate Dev Diwali festival in Mumbai, India, Nov. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)
FILE- People crowd a market as they shop ahead of Diwali festival in Mumbai, India, Nov. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)
FILE- A residential building is decorated with lanterns and lights during Diwali, the festival of lights in Mumbai, India, Nov. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)
A record 2.51 million earthen oil lamps are lit along the Saryu river during Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of Diwali, creating a new Guinness World Record, in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Fire crackers and smoke fill the city skyline as a part of Diwali celebrations at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.(AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Dogs across Nepal were honored during the annual festival of “Kukur Puja” on Thursday, with offerings of flower garlands, treats and vermillion marks on their heads.
In Nepal, the second day of Tihar — also known as Diwali — is Kukur Puja, dedicated to canines. Pet owners and others perform rituals to honor both pets and stray dogs.
At the Nepal police canine center in Kathmandu, handlers celebrated their service dogs.
At least eight dogs were lined up for the ritual, and they later demonstrated skills like jumping through fire rings and following commands such as standing on their hind legs and fetching.
“Today, we honor these dogs for their invaluable contributions, as they determinedly assist in keeping us safe, from detecting explosives to rescuing those in need during disaster events,” said Ram Narayan KC, Deputy Branch Chief of the Canine Division.
In Hindu-majority Nepal, dogs are believed to be messengers of Yamraj, the god of death, and worshiping them is said to please him.
The five-day Tihar festival begins with worshipping crows, followed by dogs and then cows, which are considered sacred in Nepal.
The remaining two days includes one honoring the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, and on the last day sisters gather to pray for their brothers’ well-being.
A Nepal's Armed Police Force dog displays skills at their kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshipped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A dog is worshipped during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshipped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A Nepal's Armed Police Force member worships a dog at their kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshipped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Nepal's Armed Police Force personnel worship their dogs at their kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshipped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A Nepal's Armed Police Force personnel worships the dog at their kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshiped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A Nepal's Armed Police Force dog displays skills at their kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshipped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Nepal's Armed Police Force get ready with their dog to worship at their kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshiped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Nepal's Armed Police Force get ready with their dog to displays skills at their kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshiped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A dog waits for its turn to be worshiped at Nepal's Armed Police Force kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshiped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Nepal's Armed Police Force get ready with their dog to display skills at their kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshiped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A Nepal's Armed Police Force dog displays skills at their kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshiped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A Nepal's Armed Police Force member worships a dog at their kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshipped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A Nepal's Armed Police Force dog sits decorated with a garland of flowers after being worshipped at their kennel division during Kukkur Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Every year, dogs are worshipped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the second day of five days long Hindu festival Tihar. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)