Students light oil lamps to celebrate Diwali in Guwahati, India

© Anuwar Hazarika/Reuter

The Hindu festival of lights. A triumph of light

These students in Guwahati, India, are lighting oil lamps called diya and placing them around a floor decoration known as rangoli. They’re preparing for Diwali, a five-day celebration symbolising the victory of light over darkness. It’s a Hindu festival, but Sikhs, Jains and Newar Buddhists also observe variations of Diwali. Many homes, temples and commercial spaces decorate with lights, especially diya. The rangoli design is thought to bring good luck and is created by hand using coloured rice, flours, sand or sometimes flower petals. Diwali lasts until 11 November, so there’s still time to embrace the light.