Diwali or the festival of lights is associated with Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after an exile of 14 years.
Diwali is almost a week-long celebration when the whole nation of India glitters with lights during the festival of lights, there are joyous celebrations, gifting of sweets and fruits, and celebrators wear their finest clothes.
The festivities start with Dhanteras and culminate with Bhai Dooj. This year, Diwali is on November 4. On November 3, Kali Puja and Hanuman Puja will be done. This day is also known as Chhoti Diwali.
This festival is associated with Lord Rama’s return to his kingdom Ayodhya with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana after defeating Ravana in Lanka and serving 14 years of exile, associated with good overcoming evil, and light overflooding the darkness. Lord Rama killed Ravana on the day of Dusshera and then returned to Ayodhya. To welcome the king, Ayodhya was illuminated and this day, Diwali celebrates this occasion.
Another highlight of the festival is Lakshmi Puja. According to Hindu scriptures, Goddess Lakshmi symbolizes wealth, prosperity, and fertility. Diwali also holds importance because it coincides with the harvest season.
Bengalis worship Goddess Kali during this time. Many homes in India worship Lord Ganesha, too, during Diwali.
There is heavy house cleaning, with fresh new curtains, new sheets, and even new furnishing bought. Flowers beautify homes with houses decorated with flower garlands, rangolis, and lights. Laddoos, all sweets, fruits are exchanged during Diwali. The sweet is offered to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha after the lightning of the diyas.
Traders change their account books on Diwali and they worship the new bahi khata.
Diwali is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists, notably Newar Buddhists and the festival usually lasts five days and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November).
Diwali symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”.
While the festival is also widely associated with Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity, with many other regional traditions connecting the celebration to Sita and Rama, Vishnu, Krishna, Yama, Yami, Durga, Kali, Hanuman, Ganesha, Kubera, Dhanvantari, or Vishvakarman.