Diwali is one of the greatest colorful, sacred, and loveliest festivals of the Hindus. There are many other festivals for Hindus but Diwali is one of the important festivals. It is celebrated every year with great delight and enthusiasm throughout the length and breadth of the country. It is celebrated on a new moon night sometime in the months of October and November. The day primarily is celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. However, there are many other various stories connected with the festival. It is a festival of lights and festivities. It comes about twenty days after Dussehra and shows the advent of winter. Diwali is to Hindus what Christmas is to Christians. It lends charms and delight to our life.

Diwali or Deepawali doesn’t just mean a row of collection of divas (lamps). It also means the return of Lord Ram, Lord Sita, and Lord Lakshman to Ayodhya. It also refers good over evil. According to the popular legend, when Lord Rama returned after 14 years of his exile after defeating Raavana, people of Ayodhya lighted candles and divas to celebrate his return to the his kingdom. The festival gets his name from the lines of divas that were celebrated the return of Lord Rama. This day symbolizes the victory of light over dark. On the day of Diwali, people get rich clothes and move about in a holiday mood. People exchange greetings and gifts or sweets on this day.
Diwali is largely celebrated in India. Indians celebrate this day as the start of the new business year. People light up their homes 2-3 days prior to the festival and gifts are exchanged between friends and families. On the night of the festival, prayers are offered to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and are worshipped in the form of earthen images and silver rupee. People believe that on this day, Hindu Goddess Laxmi enters only those house which are tidy. People which are followed by bursting of fire crackers eating of sweets and other gourmet food.  However, people refrain from meat and alcohol on this day. Of late, a lot of clubs have started organizing special parties on Diwali for the young generation.
Although Diwali is largely an Indian festival, it is widely celebrated in other countries as well such as Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Nepal, Myanmar, Mauritus and Fiji. In fact, Diwali is a national holiday in each of these countries. Diwali marks the beauty and sanctity of the festival. Off the whole, this festival is an occasion of joy, thrill, and excitement. Diwali is one the most important festival for the Hindus and it is a 5 day festival.