Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights – in pictures

In Kathmandu, Nepal, people celebrate Tihar or Diwali festival by showing reverence to dogs. Specifically, the second day of the festival is entirely dedicated to honoring dogs, who are deemed as the most faithful companions and protectors of humans. Many countries, including Nepal, Fiji, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, consider the primary day of Diwali (known as Lakshmi Puja) as an official holiday.