What is Diwali?

Diwali (also written Deepavali) is the festival of lights. The name comes from the Sanskrit dīpāvali, "a row of lamps." It is celebrated each autumn, on the new moon of the Hindu month of Kartika, so the date falls in October or November, and it is most often marked over several days.

The festival means different things in different traditions:

• Hindus light oil lamps (diyas) and candles, honour Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and celebrate Rama's return to Ayodhya after his exile, as told in the Ramayana. Families clean their homes, make rangoli designs, share sweets and exchange gifts.
• Sikhs observe Bandi Chhor Divas, which commemorates Guru Hargobind's release from imprisonment at Gwalior, and the Golden Temple in Amritsar is lit at this time.
• Jains mark Mahavira's attainment of nirvana, and the lamps and new account books of the festival have a place in their observance too.

What people do varies widely by region and family. Fireworks, firecrackers and their air pollution are now restricted in many cities, and some communities hold quieter celebrations.

If you want the texts behind these stories, the Ramayana and the Sikh and Jain accounts are the places to start.