Lights, crackers, treats: See Diwali celebrations in pictures

The Diwali festival of lights symbolises the victory of good over evil, commemorating Lord Ram’s return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing his 14-year exile.

During Diwali the entire house is cleaned and new clothes and gifts are purchased for the whole family. This is followed by lighting oil lamps around the house and setting off firecrackers.

Diwali is a major Hindu festival where people wear new clothes and share gifts and sweets with their friends and relatives.

Years ago, women traditionally started preparing different sweets and delicacies weeks in advance, but these traditions are fading out due to the attractive and different varieties of sweets offered by the sweet shops.

Diwali, known as the festival of lights will be celebrated on October 19.

Vendors show lanterns to customers at a roadside market ahead of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Mumbai, India. Picture: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

As Diwali approaches, Hindus start stocking up on decorative items. This photo was taken at a roadside shop in Amritsar, India. Picture: Raminder Pal Singh/EPA

Women shop for artificial flowers and other decorative items in a roadside shop ahead of the Diwali festival in Amritsar, India.Picture: Raminder Pal Singh/EPA

Women light lamps in Bhopal, India. Picture: Sanjeev Gupta/EPA

A man performs a special prayer ahead of Diwali celebrations in Shah Alam, Malaysia. Malaysian Hindu will celebrate Diwali on October 18. Picture: Mohd Samsul Mohd Said/Getty Images

A woman picks marigold flowers used to make garlands and offer prayers, before selling them to the market for Diwali, also known as the Tihar festival, in Kathmandu, Nepal. Picture: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

The Opera House is lit up in a gold colour to mark the start of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Sydney, Australia.Picture: David Moir/EPA

Indian dancers take part in the Diwali Festival at Trafalgar Square in London, The Diwali Festival brings together thousands of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains with people from other communities in celebration of the festival of lights. Picture: Alastair Grant/AP

Sweets are prepared at a workshop ahead of Diwali in Jammu, the winter capital of Kashmir, India. Picture: Jaipal Singh/EPA