Picture gallery: India's festival of lights

Indians have been celebrating Diwali, the festival of lights, during which Hindus offer prayers to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth.

The festival season this year was marred by an attack in the capital, Delhi, where the police shot dead two suspected militants, who they say were planning a major attack in order to disrupt the proceedings.

BBC News Online brings you glimpses of the festival.

Sikhism's holiest shrine, the Golden Temple, was illuminated for days for the festival.

Many children in Bombay took part in a fun fair

Markets in Jammu offered huge discounts to attract buyers

Soldiers at the border with Pakistan mingled with civilians at a special event

People in Delhi had to endure extra security after the killing of two militants in a shopping area

Police say they recovered arms and ammunition from the dead militants

But the attack did not dampen the spirit of shoppers in other areas of Delhi