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Diwali is the five-day Festival of Lights and is traditionally celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and is one of the most significant festivals in the Indian culture.

The word Diwali means rows of lighted lamps and it is known as the Festival of Lights because houses and shops are decorated with candles and colourful lights. This shows the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

For many Indians, Diwali honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and people will start the new business year at Diwali and some will say prayers to the goddess for a prosperous year ahead.

As well as houses being decorated with candles and colourful lights, those who are marking the celebrations share gifts and recite prayers in the name of happy, healthy futures.

Those celebrating Diwali also light traditional earthenware oil lamps called diyas which are said to help Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, find her way into people’s homes. They’ll leave their windows and doors of their houses open so that she can enter.

People will also create rangoli artwork which are patterns created using coloured rice or powder, with the most popular pattern being the lotus flower as Lakshmi was often pictured either sitting on one or holding a lotus.

During Diwali, families and friends share sweets, dried fruit and gifts, and many give food and goods to those who are less fortunate and in need. It is also a time when people spring-clean and redecorate their homes and wear new clothes.

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis accompanied by Smt Amruta Fadnavis today called on State Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao and Smt CH Vinodha at Raj Bhavan and exchanged Diwali greetings.

Mumbai Oct. 30 :- Matruchhaya Pratishthan celbrated Diwali MDR T B Patients at Wadia Hospital Thane. In pic Diwali sweets / gift giving to patients.

Traditional Chopadi Pujan at Swaminarayan Temple,dadar,in mumbai,on the eve of Laxmi Pujan in Mumbai.

Muhurat Trading: stock brokers and their familiews watch the Diwali Muhurat trading at BSE, in Mumbai