Happy Diwali 2023: From lighting diyas to decorating homes, 7 key festival traditions

Diwali will be celebrated all over India on November 12.

We are just a few days away from the biggest festival in the Indian calendar- Diwali. The festival of lights will be celebrated on Sunday, November 12, symbolising the victory of good over evil.

Here are seven traditions that are followed on Diwali:

1.Worship of Goddess Lakshmi: To receive the blessings of the goddess of wealth for prosperity, devotees pray and do puja at houses, shops and workspaces.

2.Exchange of gifts: On Diwali, families and friends meet and greet each other and it is customary to exchange gifts which is considered a gesture of love and goodwill.

3.House decoration: Families clean their residences and decorate their houses with flower garlands and lights, thereby creating a festive atmosphere. The reason for cleaning their residences before the festival is because it is believed goddess Lakshmi will only come to those residences which are free of dirt.

4.Feasting: During Diwali, special sweets and savoury food items are prepared and shared with family and friends.

5.Lighting of diyas and lamps: Families light traditional oil lamps called diyas and decorative candles in their homes during Diwali. The lighting of diyas and lamps is said to symbolise the victory of good over evil and light over darkness.

6.Rangoli art: As part of the decorations for Diwali, rangolis are made on the floor using powders. Any Diwali celebration is almost incomplete without rangoli colours.

7.Firecracker bursting: A tradition which was a big part of Diwali festivities for a number of years but has not been followed with the same amount of joy in recent years is the bursting of firecrackers, which has been on the decline due to the possibility of causing air pollution in cities.