Pictures: The celebration of Diwali, the Hindu New Year

A mountain of delicious food is displayed during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Attendees prayerfully admire the mountain of delicious food displayed during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Colorfully dressed women gather and enjoy themselves during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

A mountain of delicious food is displayed during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Women pray during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Mahendra Patel walks among a massive display of food during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Attendees gather outside during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Girls pose for a photo during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

An image of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the sixth and present spiritual guru of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, is displayed during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Mahendra Patel performs the "arti" during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The arti involves waving lighted wicks before the sacred images to infuse the flames with the Dieties' love, energy and blessing. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Colorfully dressed women gather and enjoy themselves during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Photos are taken during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Attendees walk among the twinkling lights during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

A child holds a sign promoting the "world's best Falafel" during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Colorfully dressed women gather and enjoy themselves during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Attendees prayerfully admire the mountain of delicious food displayed during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

A man lies down in prayer during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

The colorful interior of the temple is pictured during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Manoj Patel passes lighted wicks around the congregation to allow members to receive the blessings infused within the flames during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Colorfully dressed women gather and enjoy themselves during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Mahendra Patel performs the "arti" during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The arti involves waving lighted wicks before the sacred images to infuse the flames with the Dieties' love, energy and blessing. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Children are pictured during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Attendees prayerfully admire the mountain of delicious food displayed during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Men pray during a celebration of Diwali/Hindu New Year at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Orlando, on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Hindu New Year is celebrated around the world and is a festival of light to celebrate light over dark, good over evil. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)