Happy Diwali! 4 facts about the Festival of Lights
Light up those lamps and bring out the sparkle, it's time for Diwali!
Photo: Pixabay/Piyush_Sagar
Happy Diwali to all those who celebrate!
Today, (31 October), millions of people celebrate the Festival of Lights with food, dinners, parties and prayer.
The Festival of Lights pays homage to the defeat of darkness with light.
Here are four things about the festival:
1. It happens on a no-moon night
Diwali is spread over five days and falls in the Hindu calendar month of Karthik.
To celebrate, firecrackers are lit into the moonless sky.
Lights and candles are also placed along the walls and entrances of houses
2. It celebrates the birth of Lakshmi
It is believed the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi, was born on Diwali.
The light honours and invites Lakshmi to enter and bless their homes, temples and other public places.
3. It’s the end of the harvest season
Diwali marks the end of the harvest season in India.
Farmers also offer their harvest to the Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity.
4. It includes the festival of Annakut
Annakut is celebrated on the fourth day of Diwali, the first day of the new year in the Hindu calendar.