Individuals participate in a Diwali prayer service, passing among one another a lit flame during an Aarti ceremony. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)

Individuals in Orlando joined together for a Diwali celebration at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, as they celebrated the Hindu New Year. The five-day festival is celebrated by more than a billion people across the world — and not just Hindus. Other faith communities, including Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists, also observe the festival, with traditions for the celebration varying depending on regions and beliefs. Known as the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali is a celebration of the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and the triumph of good over evil. The days that mark Diwali, that was observed fr

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