Photos: Diwali celebrations around the world

Devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu as part of Diwali in Ayodhya, India, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. The northern Indian city of Ayodhya has broken a Guinness World Record after lighting 300,150 earthen lamps and keeping them lit for at least 45 minutes.

(Rajesh Kumar Singh / AP)

Chicago Tribune

Oct. 19, 2017 1:50 PM PT

For five days each autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in the southern hemisphere) pockets of the world shine brilliantly for Diwali. The Hindu festival of light celebrates good over evil and commemorates the return of Hindu deity Rama to his birthplace after victory against the demon king Ravana. Participants light oil lamps and candles, shop, decorate their homes, exchange gifts and pray. Here is a collection of photos from Diwali celebrations around the world.

Indian people fly sky lanterns as they celebrate the Hindu festival Diwali, the festival of lights in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Nov. 7.

(Bikas Das / AP)

A Nepalese vendor sells powder during Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018.

(Niranjan Shrestha / AP)

A girl makes a design, traditionally made on Diwali, with colored chalk in the courtyard of a house in Dharmsala, India, Wednesday, Nov. 7.

(Ashwini Bhatia / AP)

Pakistani Hindus light firecrackers during Diwali Festival celebrations in Karachi on November 7.

(ASIF HASSAN / AFP / Getty Images)

A slum colony is decorated with lanterns and lights as they celebrate the Hindu festival Diwali Mumbai, India, Tuesday, Nov. 6.

(Rafiq Maqbool / AP)

A Pakistani Hindu boy lights a sparkler during Diwali Festival celebrations in Karachi on November 7.

(ASIF HASSAN / AFP / Getty Images)

Indian Sikh devotees light lights diyas (earthen lamps) during Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on November 7. Sikhs celebrate ‘Bandi Chhor Divas’, also on the same day as the Hindu festival of Diwali.

(NARINDER NANU / AFP / Getty Images)

A woman colors earthen lamps ahead of Diwali festival in Jammu, India on Tuesday, Oct. 30. People buy these lamps to decorate their homes during the annual Hindu festival of lights.

(Channi Anand / AP)

A Pakistani Hindu girl holds an oil lamp to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights in Karachi, Lahore, Wednesday, Nov. 7.

(K.M. Chaudary / AP)

Illuminated Akshardham temple seen on the eve of Diwali, the festival of lights in Gandhinagar, India, Tuesday, Nov. 6.

(Ajit Solanki / AP)

People from Pakistani Hindu community celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, Nov. 7.

(Fareed Khan / AP)

Indian traders and saints perform rituals during Chopada Pujan or a mass prayer ceremony dedicated to the worship of the account books, on the occasion of Diwali at a Swaminarayan temple in Ahmadabad, India, Wednesday, Nov. 7.

(Ajit Solanki / AP)

Indian vendor arranges idols of Hindu goddess Lakshmi and other decorative articles at a road side market ahead of Diwali in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, Nov. 6.

(Mahesh Kumar A. / AP)

Diwali shopping at APMC Market on October 14 in Navi Mumbai, India.

(Hindustan Times/Getty Images)

Indian widows light earthen lamps or “diyas” during Diwali celebrations at Gopinath temple in Vrindava, India on October 16.

(XAVIER GALIANA/AFP/Getty Images)

People from Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities celebrated Diwali in Trafalgar Square in London on October 16.

(Barcroft Media/Getty Images)

Sri Lankan Hindu devotees offer prayers during Diwali at a temple in Colombo on October 18.

(LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images)

Indian children and volunteers of a street dog organization release sky lanterns to promote a peaceful and eco-friendly Diwali and create awareness about saving street animals, in Siliguri on October 17.

(DIPTENDU DUTTA/AFP/Getty Images)