Known as the "festival of lights", Diwali (or Dipawaali) usually takes place eighteen days after Dusshera. The common practice is to light small oil lamps (called diyas) and place them around the home, in courtyards, verandahs, and gardens, as well as on roof-tops and outer walls. The celebration of the festival is accompanied by the exchange of sweets and the explosion of fireworks.
Diwali signifies different things to people across the country. In northern India, it celebrates Rama's homecoming, that is his return to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana and his coronation as king; in Gujarat, Diwali honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth; and in Bengal, it is associated with the goddess Kali.
Products with Diwali
Regardless of the location, Diwali signifies the renewal of life, and it is common to wear new clothes on the day of the festival; similarly, it heralds the approach of winter and the beginning of the sowing season.
