India cricket fans light firecrackers as they celebrate India winning the ICC Champions Trophy on a street in Varanasi, on March 9, 2025. India beat New Zealand by four wickets on March 9, 2025 in the one-day international (ODI) final to claim a record third Champions Trophy title. (Photo by Niharika Kulkarni/AFP Photo)

A Miniature Dachshund (L) wears a duck bill-shaped dog muzzle while sitting in a stroller with another Miniature Dachshund at the “Interpets” international pet fair in Tokyo, Japan, April 2, 2015. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/EPA)

Katie Austin (L) and Denise Austin attend the 2019 ESPY Awards at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

“Himalayan Dog”. This dog just appeared out of nowhere and followed us for an entire week during our trekking trip in the Himalayan outback. He always used to sleep in front of our tent and guarded us in the nights. When I decided to get up at 4 a.m. to climb the next 5000 m peak for sunrise he accompanied me as well. On the top he was sitting for the entire 30 minutes on this place looking straight into the countryside. Photo location: Ladakh, India. (Photo and caption by Sebastian Wahlhuetter/National Geographic Photo Contest)

Rangoli, also known as kolam or Muggu, is a folk art from India in which patterns are created on the floor in living rooms or courtyards using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, colored sand or flower petals. It is usually made during Diwali, Onam, Pongal and other Indian festivals. They are meant to be sacred welcoming areas for the Hindu deities. The ancient symbols have been passed down through the ages, from each generation to the next, keeping both the art form and the tradition alive. Similar practices are followed in different Indian states: in Tamil Nadu, there is Kolam in Tamil Nadu; Mandana in Rajasthan; Chaookpurna in Chhattisgarh; Alpana in West Bengal; Aripana in Bihar; Chowk pujan in Uttar Pradesh; Muggu in Andhra Pradesh and others.

Giant pandas eat at Chongqing Zoo in Chongqing, China on September 23, 2023. (Photo by Costfoto/NurPhoto/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) gloves a loose puck beside Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) during the third period at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 17, 2024. (Photo by Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images via USA Today Sports)