INDIA, November 2, 2021 (Aljazeera): Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is the biggest festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists around the world. The festival’s date changes every year and commemorates different things depending on local tradition and culture. Hindus celebrate the triumph of good over evil – of light over darkness – to mark the return of Ram, the Lord of Virtue, to His kingdom after 14 years of exile.
For many in India, it also marks the end of the harvest season. Houses are cleaned, decorated with colorful rangoli artworks – patterns created on the floor using colored rice or powder – and earthen lamps, candles and electric lights put outside. On the day of Diwali, people wear new clothes, visit friends and family, and exchange sweets and gifts. In the evening, a special puja (prayer) is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi who is said to bring luck and prosperity. As the coronavirus situation eases in India with the lowest daily cases reported since February, the festival this year is back in full swing with large crowds thronging markets and fairs in cities across the vast nation of 1.3 billion people.
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