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Festivals · Diwali

Diwali

The festival of lights, and the evening Lakshmi is welcomed home.

Homes are cleaned, doorways lit and rangoli drawn. On Diwali evening families gather for Lakshmi puja, honouring Ganesha first.

6 objects and rituals

The story

Light over darkness

Diwali is celebrated across India, and customs differ by region: for many it marks Rama’s return to Ayodhya, and for most households its central evening is Lakshmi puja.

The days before are for cleaning and preparing the home. On the night itself, diyas are lit at every doorway and window, and sweets are shared with family and neighbours.

Clay diyas lit beside marigolds on Diwali
In motion

The ritual

The Diwali evening

Customs vary between families and regions. This is a simple, widely shared sequence.

  1. 1

    Prepare the home

    Clean, draw rangoli at the entrance and set diyas at the doorways.

  2. 2

    Set the altar

    Place Ganesha and Lakshmi on a clean cloth, with a kalash beside them.

  3. 3

    Light

    Light the diyas on the altar and through the home.

  4. 4

    Puja

    Offer kumkum, flowers and sweets, to Ganesha first and then to Lakshmi.

  5. 5

    Aarti and sharing

    Perform aarti together and share sweets with family and neighbours.

Gifting

Diwali gifts with meaning

Gifts for family, friends and colleagues that carry the festival’s light rather than just its sweets.

Explore gifting

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