Hindus on Thursday celebrated Diwali, a festival of lights in which people illuminate oil lamps or candles to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

For some Hindus, Diwali also marks the beginning of a new year, according to a BBC report.

People celebrate Diwali by throwing parties, meet friends and family and exchange gifts.

The exact dates of the festival changes every year because they are determined by the position of the moon. However, it usually falls between October and November, according to BBC.

In Pakistan, the Hindu communities mark Diwali with enthusiasm.

This year, the Punjab Human Rights and Minority Affairs Department held an event on Monday to celebrate Diwali. The celebrations featured burning of oil lamps, cake cutting, sweets and fruit distribution, vegetarian dinner to show solidarity with the Hindu community in Pakistan, the News reported.

The Sindh government announced a holiday for November 4 to celebrate Diwali. Many people took to Twitter to wish people on Diwali, including Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Journalist Naimat Khan also tweeted a short video on Monday of an Islamic charity's organization of an event to mark Diwali.

BBC journalist Secunder Kirmani also tweeted images of a temple in Multan to remind people of Pakistan's rich diverse history.

India has been lit up in a dazzling display of light and colour but the festival comes amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic and air pollution.

The coronavirus has significantly disrupted people's lives for nearly two years and India is one of the world's worst-hit nations by the pandemic. According to official figures, more than 35 million people tested positive for the virus in India and over 450,000 died of Covid.

The use of firecrackers during Diwali worsens pollution levels every year. This is particularly bad in Delhi, where air pollution rises to hazardous levels.