Diwali (Deepavali)

Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over Ravana. The people of Ayodhya lit rows of earthen lamps to welcome him home — and that tradition lives on as Deepavali, the row of lights. In another tradition, Diwali is the night Goddess Lakshmi chose Lord Vishnu as her consort and the night she walks the earth blessing clean, lit homes with prosperity.

Light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil. The five-day festival begins with Dhanteras, peaks at Lakshmi-Ganesh puja on Amavasya night, and ends with Bhai Dooj — making it the most pan-Indian festival of the year.