One of India’s most visually stunning festivals is being celebrated this week. Diwali , the five day festival of light, is traditionally celebrated on the third day of the festival, which this year falls today.

The festival is celebrated by a range of religions, including Jains, Sikhs and Hindus. Celebrations focus on light using firework displays and decorating houses in traditional rangoli artwork, as well as giving to charity.

The first day of the festival, Tuesday 21 October, was dedicated to wealth, and across India shops were bustling with customers eager to celebrate wealth by purchasing new products, and on the second day demon effigies were burnt across the country. Tomorrow merchants will offer prayers along with the opening of new accounts. On the final day brothers and sisters come together to share food to honour their bond.