What do you know about Diwali? Read this article to find out what people do at this special time of year.
Do the preparation exercise first. Then read the article and do the other exercises.
Diwali is one of the most popular festivals in India. It is celebrated by millions of people not just in India but in many other countries across the world.
The date of Diwali changes every year, because the Hindu calendar depends on the position of the moon. In the Western calendar, it's usually sometime in October or November. Diwali lasts for five days, but the main celebration is on the third day. This is the darkest night of the month in the Indian calendar.
Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights. In the very old Indian language, Sanskrit, Diwali (or Deepavali ) means 'row of lamps'. People light lamps at Diwali to show that light is more powerful than darkness, and good is more powerful than evil. Diwali also celebrates new beginnings.
To prepare for this very special festival, people often clean and decorate their homes. They go shopping for food and new clothes for Diwali. It's also an important time of year for buying gold and silver.
Rangoli are colourful patterns that people make on the floor out of coloured powder, rice and flowers. Some of the most popular patterns to make are flowers. People make rangoli to welcome the gods into their homes and to bring good luck.
People often decorate their homes with small lamps called diyas . They light lamps and leave the windows open so that the Indian goddess, Lakshmi, will enter their home and bring good luck. They often watch big, colourful firework displays and also enjoy shows of music and dancing.
At Diwali, people spend time with their family and friends. They pray to the goddess Lakshmi to bring peace and good fortune to their homes. They wear their best clothes, give and receive presents, and eat delicious food and sweets together.
Diwali has a different meaning for different religions, and their Diwali stories are different. But for everyone, Diwali is a time for good and happy things, and it's a beautiful, colourful festival of lights. Happy Diwali!
Are there Diwali celebrations where you live? Do you watch fireworks at a different time of year? Tell us about it!
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