Dipavali

Diwali / Deepavali
Rangoli decorations, made using coloured powder or sand, are popular during Diwali.
Also called	Deepavali
Observed by	Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Newar Buddhists
Type	Cultural, seasonal, religious
Celebrations	Diya and lighting, home decoration, shopping, fireworks, puja (prayers), gifts, performing religious rituals, feast and sweets
Begins	Dhanteras, two days before Diwali
Ends	Bhai Dooj, two days after Diwali
Date	Varies per Hindu calendar
2017 date	19 October (Thursday) 18 October (Wednesday) in South India
Related to	Kali Puja, Galungan, Diwali (Jainism), Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti

Diwali celebrations

Indoor Diya decoration on Naraka Chaturdasi night Outdoor Diya decoration on Diwali night Diwali lanterns before Dhanteras in Maharashtra As Tihar in Nepal Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas celebrations in Amritsar Diwali night fireworks over a city (Chennai) Diwali Mithai (sweets) Diwali lamps Diwali festivities include a celebration of sights, sounds, arts and flavors. The festivities vary between different regions.

Diwali or Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights celebrated every year in autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in southern hemisphere). It is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India,Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and recently Sindh Province in Pakistan. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, it spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Its celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and other buildings in the communities and countries where it is observed. The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika in Bikram Sambat calendar (the month of Aippasi in Tamil Calendar). In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali night falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate, and decorate their homes and offices. On Diwali night, people dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, participate in family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of fertility and prosperity. After puja, fireworks follow, then a family feast including mithai (sweets), and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends. Deepavali also marks a major shopping period in nations where it is celebrated.