The Hindu festival of Deepawali, more commonly called Diwali, celebrates the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. The main festivities take place during the new moon in October or November, and the dark night is lit by fireworks, electric lights, clay lamps, and paper lanterns. In India, city streets and village squares are crowded with people as every family joins in the joyous celebrations. The holiday itself lasts for several days, and Hindus generally celebrate by visiting friends and relatives, taking them homemade sweets (mithai), giving charity to the less fortunate, and of course creating as much light as possible. To show that guests are welcome, many households make intricate colored patterns called rangoli outside their doors. Today, they can be made with sand, colored flour-paste, or even chalk.

Deepawali literally translates as rows or an array or lamps. There are several stories associated with it. In the north of India, rows of lamps are set on the rooftops to commemorate King Rama's coronation and return to his kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years in exile. As he and his wife Sita journeyed home after having defeated the demon king Ravana, the people of Ayodhya placed lamps called diyas in rows to light their way. Another story of the triumph of good over evil associated with Diwali is he defeat of the demon Narakasura. Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama, who defeated him, are honored during Diwali in south India. For others, Diwali festivities began as celebrations of nature's triumph in producing an abundant harvest. The Lakshmi Pooja, or prayers to the goddess Mahalakshmi, that many Indians observe on Diwali reveal a fourth origin for the festival. It was on the day of Diwali many, many years ago that Lakshmi is said to have emerged from the ocean to bring wealth and prosperity to mankind. Though Hindus may have different traditions to explain Diwali's existence, they unite in their light-filled, joyous celebration of it.