Pictures: Diwali celebrations in UAE and around the world

People enjoy fireworks on the occasion of Diwali at Dubai Festival City. After rather sombre and to some extent even muted celebrations in many parts of the world last year, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hindus all over the world are celebrating Diwali this time around with reasonable fervour and community participation, though following the basic health safeguards will still be the buzzword.

A performer during the Diwali celebrations at the Blue Waters Island in Dubai.

People watch a laser show on the banks of the river Sarayu during Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of Diwali in Ayodhya, India.

Spiritually, the festival denotes good over evil, victory of light over darkness. “In fact, in Gujarat, Diwali has a more spiritual significance,” explained Pooja Gosalia, who hails from Mumbai. “Besides the regular prayers, we also place books for prayers. B0usiness professionals and traders keep their accounting books in the prayer room to seek the Almighty’s blessings. Goddess Lakshmi is invoked for prosperity for the entire year.”

People enjoy the Diwali fireworks at the Blue Waters Island in Dubai.

A father and son play during the Diwali celebrations at the Blue Waters Island in Dubai.

People enjoy fireworks on the occasion of Diwali at Dubai Festival City.

People light lamps on the banks of the river Saryu in Ayodhya. Millions of people across Asia are celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali, which symbolizes new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. The celebrations were especially spectacular in Ayodhya city in northern Uttar Pradesh state, where over 900,000 earthen lamps were lit at the banks of the Saryu River as desk fell Wednesday. Hindus believe the city is the birthplace of god Ram.

Dubai residents rush to Bikanervala in Karama to buy sweets for Diwali.

Buildings in Bur Dubai are illuminated with decorative lights for Diwali celebrations. Diwali is a widely celebrated festival in India. It falls in the lunar month of Kartika, which usually falls in mid-October and mid-November.

Massive Diwali celebrations are going to be back in Dubai after a one-year lull due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Expo 2020 Dubai being the major venue highlighting the Indian festival of lights with week-long celebrations.

Indian International School DSO Dilwale Diwali performance at Expo 2020 Dubai. According to Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, beautiful traditional decor and illuminating projection showcases will be organised at Expo 2020 Dubai to help visitors get into the Diwali spirit.

Dancers entertain the visitors during Diwali celebrations at Expo 2020 Dubai.

People throng market to shop on the ocassion of Diwali, in Bikaner.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers sweets to army soldiers on the occasion of Diwali, at Nowshera, in Rajouri. PM Modi told army soldiers on Thursday that he has brought wishes of 1.3 billion Indians for them as he celebrated Diwali with soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.

People buy sweet candies used for puja for Diwali festival, in Bhopal on Thursday.

Diwali Festival celebrations at the Indian Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai.

Members of India families living in Japan, wearing traditional salwar kameez and sari, pose for a photo as they gather to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at a park in Tokyo.

Devotees offer a prayer during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at Sri Mariamman Temple in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia.

An artist applies henna on a woman's hand during the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, in Taipei, Taiwan.

Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers exchange sweets at the Attari-Wagah border on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday.

Hindu devotees hold oil lamps as they offer prayers during Diwali, the festival of lights, at a Hindu temple in Colombo.

Hindu devotees pray at Batu caves temple during the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

People queue too buy traditional foods on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in the Little India district in Singapore.

BSF personnel celebrate Diwali festival at RS Pura sector, in Jammu.

Women play with sparklers during the celebrations on the eve of the Diwali festival in Chennai.

Indians shop on the eve of Hindu festival of lights Diwali, in Jammu.

An Illuminated view of Anasagar Lake during Diwali festival celebration in Ajmer.

A stock trader (C) along with family members work on a terminal during a special trading session on the occasion of Diwali festival in Mumbai on November 4, 2021.