Blog: What is Diwali?

Diwali is one of the biggest festivals in the Hindu calendar, celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness in India. It’s celebrated for five consecutive days, with day 3 being the main Diwali festival.

Fireworks of all colours are essential; clay lamps “diyas” and candles add to the brightness and the goddess Laxmi (goddess of wealth) is the focus of worship.

The best place to experience Diwali has to be the town of Ayodhya, which lies east of Delhi and close to the Nepal border. This is the birth-place of Rama, one of the earthly manifestations (or ‘avatars’) of Vishnu. Hindu deities tend to get a bit complicated, so best just to go with it and join in the fun! The citizens of Ayodhya decorated the entire city with earthen lamps and illuminate town in as bright a way as possible. Diwali isn’t complete without exchanging gifts, performing traditional prayers and rituals and cooking special delicacies; so in this respect, not dissimilar to Christmas.