Before Diwali night, people clean,
renovate and decorate their homes. On Diwali night, Hindus dress up in
new clothes or their best outfit, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, participate in family puja typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity. After puja (prayers), fireworks follow, then a family feast including mithai
(sweets), and an exchange of gifts between family members and close
friends. Diwali also marks a major shopping period in nations where it
is celebrated.
Diwali is an important festival for
Hindus. The name of festive days as well as the rituals of Diwali vary
significantly among Hindus, based on the region of India. In many parts
of India,the festivities start with Dhanteras, followed by Naraka
Chaturdasi on second day, Diwali on the third day, Diwali Padva
dedicated to wife-husband relationship on the fourth day, and
festivities end with Bhau-beej dedicated to sister-brother bond on the
fifth day. Dhanteras usually falls eighteen days after Dussehra.
On the same night that Hindus celebrate Diwali, Jains celebrate a festival of lights to mark the attainment of moksha by Mahavira, Sikhs similarly celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas,and Arya Samajists celebrate Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti.
Diwali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar,
Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore
and Fiji.
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Diwali has come to be celebrated for a whole host of reasons - for business communities, it heralds the new year - a fresh start when old accounts are settled and new ledgers opened.
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