People watch a laser show on the banks of the river Sarayu during Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Ayodhya on Wednesday. The five-day festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness. Sanjay Kanojia/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Diwali is known as the "festival of lights." But really, it's more than that. It is a new year for Hindus across the globe. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. jayk7/Moment/Getty Images hide caption
Devotees prepare to immerse in an artificial pond an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesh in Mumbai, India, Aug. 23. India's coronavirus caseload topped 3 million that day, with the country leading the world in new daily infections. Rajanish Kakade/AP hide caption
Hindu holy men sample the sacred waters, which are believed to be restorative, with the power to cleanse sin. Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Revelers in Mumbai hoist up a statue of the elephant-headed god Ganesh and parade it toward the Arabian Sea. Lauren Frayer/NPR hide caption