Divyakant Solanki/European Pressphoto Agency

In today’s photos, a fire burns at a petrochemical plant in Louisiana, a cow competes in a pageant in Germany, a fisherman on horseback catches shrimp in Belgium, and more.

In today’s pictures, Indian holy men gather, Cubans wait in line as the country ends its exit-visa requirement, the Detroit auto show is under way, and more.

Hindus worldwide recently celebrated Diwali, a five-day "festival of lights" that marks the new year and honors the principle of good over evil. One Diwali ritual is honoring Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. The occasion is also celebrated with fireworks, the sharing of sweets and gifts, and by decorating homes with lights and candles. Diwali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, and Fiji.-- Lloyd Young EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no post on Friday.)( 42 photos total)
A reveler lights a bottle rocket at a park during Diwali, the “festival of lights”, in Kolkata on Nov. 13. The festival marks the victory of good over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu God Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years in exile. (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images)

In today's pictures, a Boston College graduate sleeps during the ceremony, Japanese children watch the eclipse, a frog competes in a jumping competition in California, and more.

BULLET HOLES: A police officer investigated at an IHOP in Carson City, Nev., where a man fatally shot two uniformed National Guard members and a third person, wounded six people and fatally shot himself Tuesday. National Guard members had been meeting at the restaurant. (Cathleen Allison/Associated Press)

BUZZ CUT: U.S. Army Pfc. Shawn Riggins shaved the head of Army Pfc. Kyler King at forward operating base Kushamond in Afghanistan Tuesday. (Johannes Eisele/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)

DUMPSTER DIVING: A man collected trash from a garbage bin in Shanghai Tuesday. (Eugene Hoshiko/Associated Press)

SWIMMING WITH GANESH: A man carried an idol of the elephant-headed Hindu Lord Ganesh into the Arabian Sea as part of a ritual during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai Tuesday. (Divyakant Solanki/European Pressphoto Agency)

IN SHOCK: Police officers rescued a girl, 12, whose father had held her hostage for hours at a law office in Parramatta, Australia, Tuesday. Police stormed the building and arrested the 52-year-old man who had claimed to have a bomb in his backpack. (Daniel Munoz/Reuters)