A girl lights earthen lamps in a formation to form the shape of Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, on the eve of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh, on November 12, 2012. #

An Indian artisan gives finishing touches to semi-finished clay idol of the Hindu Goddess Kali, Goddess of Power, at Kumartoli, the idol artist's village in Kolkata, on November 8, 2012. The Kali worship will take place on 13 November, in the eastern Indian states along with Diwali, the Festival of Lights. #

An Indian worker puts gunpowder inside a clay pot to make a firecracker for the upcoming Diwali festival near Kolkata, on November 8, 2012. Fire crackers are in heavy demand for the Hindu festival of lights. #

Indian volunteers from a social organization release sky lanterns to promote a peaceful and eco-friendly Diwali, and create awareness of child labor practices in the firecracker industry during a function in Kolkata, on November 9, 2012. #

A flower vendor smiles as she waits for the customer during Tihar (Diwali) festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on November 12, 2012. Tihar, the festival of lights is one of the most important of all Hindu festival, where they worship Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and decorate their houses with oil lamps. #

Fireworks erupt above Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, Chennai, India, on November 12, 2012. Original here. #

An Indian trader worships an iPad and other electronic gadgets including laptops and mobile phones in New Delhi at the start of Diwali, November 13, 2012. The worshiping of account books has historically been an essential part of Diwali for the business community in India, to promote the prosperity of their trades. Signifying the modernization of the retail trade in India, some traders are now including the worship of electronic gadgets. #

Indian members of a local trading organization celebrate Diwali by chanting mantras as they worship electronic gadgets including iPads, laptops and mobile phones on Diwali, in New Delhi, on November 13, 2012. The worshiping of account books has historically been an essential part of Diwali for the business community in India, to promote the prosperity of their trades. Signifying the modernization of the retail trade in India, some traders are now including the worship of electronic gadgets. #

Nepalese police dogs, after being smeared with vermillion on their foreheads and marigold garlands placed around their necks on the occasion of the Tihar (Diwali) festival in Kathmandu, on November 13, 2012. On Tihar, it is customary in Nepal for people to offer blessings to dogs, which, according to Hindu tradition, are the messengers of Yamaraj, the god of death. #

People light earthen lamps in the shape of Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, on the eve of Diwali, in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh, on November 12, 2012. The letters in Hindi language reads, "Happy Diwali." #

Hindu priests perform rituals as devotees gather around an idol of monkey god Hanuman during Hanuman Jayanti festival in Allahabad, India, on November 12, 2012. Hanuman Jayanti commemorates the birth of Hanuman, which is celebrated in some parts of northern Indian ahead of Diwali. #

A woman paints dried clay lamps at her workplace as her daughter watches, on the outskirts of Jammu, on November 5, 2012. Earthen lamps are sold in large numbers during Diwali, when people buy them to decorate their homes. #

Indian Sikh devotees gather at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas or Diwali, on November 13, 2012. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas or Diwali to mark the return of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, who was freed from imprisonment and also managed to release 52 political prisoners at the same time from Gwalior fort by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619. #

Indian Border Security Force soldiers light candles and crackers as part of Diwali celebrations at the India-Bangladesh border post of Lankamura, near Agartala, India, on November 13, 2013. #

A Nepalese woman feeds a cow during the Tihar (Diwali) festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on November 13, 2012. Cows are considered sacred to Hindus and are worshiped during Tihar festival, one of the most important Hindu festivals dedicated to the Goddess of wealth Lakshmi. #

Widows gather around a tulsi plant and light oil lamps to celebrate Diwali at a rest house run by a devotee in Bhubaneswar, India, on November 13, 2012. Diwali, the festival of lights dedicated to the Goddess of wealth Lakshmi, is being celebrated across the country today. #

Nepalese policemen apply vermillion powder and perform rituals over a dog during the Tihar (Diwali) festival celebrations at a police kennel division in Kathmandu, Nepal, on November 13, 2012. Dogs are worshiped to acknowledge their role in providing security during the festival. #

A girl sits at a temple after a prayer session during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in the village of Taman Permata, outside Kuala Lumpur, on November 13, 2012. The Hindu community, which makes up 8 percent of Malaysia's 28 million population, celebrated the start of Diwali, known locally as Deepavali, on Tuesday by decorating their homes and visiting places of worship. #