Festival of Lights; Lakshmi welcomed home with diyas, fireworks, and sweets

Diwali, or Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival, kept on Kartika Amavasya, the darkest night of the year. It celebrates the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. It is the high point of a five-day festival from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj. In North India it marks Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and the defeat of Ravana, when the citizens lit the whole city with lamps. In the South and West it celebrates Krishna's victory over Narakasura, and in Bengal it is Kali Puja. Goddess Lakshmi, born on this night from the churning of the ocean, is believed to wander the earth and enter homes that are clean, bright and welcoming, so homes are cleaned, lit with diyas and decorated with rangoli. The evening Lakshmi-Ganesha puja in Pradosh Kaal is the central ritual, followed by fireworks, sweets and visits to family. For Jains it is Mahavira's nirvana, for Sikhs Bandi Chhor Divas, the release of Guru Hargobind from Gwalior fort, and in Gujarat it closes the financial year.

Some fast through the day and eat after Lakshmi Puja.