The Hindu festival of Diwali is a five-day festival, which is a time to give and receive gifts. During this festival, Indonesia and Malaysia declare a public holiday. Many businesses and individuals open new accounts as part of the celebration. It is also a time to visit holy places.
The festival is celebrated in various ways in different parts of the world. One of the most popular traditions is lighting clay oil lamps to worship the Goddess Lakshmi. People will also light rangolis and leave doors and windows wide open. This is believed to bring good luck and prosperity. The ancient King Mahabali also celebrated Diwali.
Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil. People light up their homes, shops, and streets to celebrate the festival. They also worship Lord Ganesha, the god of prosperity. It is celebrated on the 15th day of Kartik (or Amavasya), which falls on the 24th day of the Hindu lunar calendar. In 2022, it will fall on the 24th of October. The festival is a gazetted holiday in India.
Diwali is an important religious holiday for Hindus. In the Indian calendar, the festival is celebrated during October or November. It begins with cleaning homes and buying things for good luck. People also decorate their homes with colourful powders and sand. Fireworks are also commonly used during the festival.