Diwali Customs and Traditions

Diwali 2022: Diwali is here and it is a five-day festival. The festival of lights starts with Dhanteras every year. Diwali is celebrated for five days with much joy and happiness. It is believed that Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Laxman returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The festival is celebrated as a symbol of the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. There are many stories associated with Diwali and it is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the country.

People clean their houses and believe that Goddess Lakshmi will come into their house and brings good luck and prosperity along with her. Decoration with flowers and lights is a must during Diwali.
For Diwali, people exchange gifts as a token of love and happiness.
Devotees perform Lakshmi Puja and Ganesh Puja in the evening on the day of Diwali.

In some states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Goa, people worship Hanuman the day before Diwali's main day. Marathi Hindus and South Indian Hindus receive an oil massage from the elders in the family on the day and then take a ritual bath, all before sunrise. In Bengal, Odisha, and parts of eastern India, Kali Puja is performed on Diwali and devotees offer meat, fish, and hibiscus flowers to the goddess. In Odisha, people worship their ancestors in heaven and they perform Kauriya Kathi which means they burn jute sticks and hope for good luck. In Assam, during Diwali, people worship Kali and Lakshmi Mata. North Indians and South Indians celebrate Diwali in the more or less the same manner.