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 from October 18 to October 22 this year, are based on the Hindu lunar calendar and typically occur in late October or early November.
On this day of the celebration, marking the beginning of the New Year, participants prayed and expressed gratitude in front of an Annakut a Diwali food mountain created as a symbolic offering of gratitude. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Mahendra Patel leads the Aarti ceremony, waving a lit diya lamp in front of the Annakut as participants offer prayers for the New Year. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
In between the Aarti ceremonies that ran throughout the day, friends and family members gathered to take pictures of one another in front of the Annakut. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Â
In Orlando, a theme of unity served as the backdrop for the celebration, often referred to as the Hindu festival of lights. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Laxmikantbhai Patel brings the lit diya lamp — infused with the deities’ love, energy and blessings — to participants around the room following the Aarti prayer ceremony. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Participants pass their hands over the flame and gesture it toward themselves, in the manner one would wash their face, to receive blessings and good fortune in the coming year. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Arvind Patel joins other participants, offering prayers and thanks. (Rich Pope./Orlando Sentinel)
Following the ceremony, the blessed food that makes up Annakut is distributed and shared among one another at the festival. (Rich Pope./Orlando Sentinel)
Hanash Patel, his wife Rachana, and their children, Zara and Niam, gather for a photo following the Aarti prayer ceremony. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Friends and family members browse the Sharona store, where vegetarian food and gift items can be purchased to enjoy at the Diwali celebration or to take home. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Originally Published: October 23, 2025 at 6:17 PM EDT