Diwali is a religious festival. It is also known as the Festival of Lights. Diwali is celebrated mainly in India, but you can notice its observance in other countries such as Guyana, Mauritius, Nepal, Myanmar, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. The festival is considered as an official holiday in all these aforementioned nations. Diwali is a 5-day-long celebration. Religiously, the Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains celebrate this festival. There are a number of activities, which are associated with the festival.

• Diwali decorations: According to the tradition, people clean their houses and belongings before diwali. They invest quite a long period to decorate their houses. People re-paint their houses before dewali. There are a number of elements, with which they decorate their house for diwali celebrations. Rangoli is the most important decoration in diwali. People use duct colors to make rangoli. It is a ritual to welcome the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi goddess. Apart from rangoli, lights and bandanwars are the main decorative items in diwali.
  
  
• Diwali puja: The celebrations of diwali start after offering prayer to the God. Diwali is celebrated at the end of the harvest season and people show their gratitude by offering prayers to the God. Diwali is the ideal time to say ‘Thank You’ to the God. Generally, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for good luck and wealth for the coming year. Lakshmi-panchayatan is a religious ritual, which is performed during Lakshmi Puja. The Lakshmi-panchayatan includes the worships of Indra, Kubera, Vishnu, Lakshmi, and Gajendra. Goddess Lakshmi symbolizes divine energy, God Vishnu signifies happiness, Kubera and Gajendra bring wealth, and God Indra is symbolic of abundance.
  
  
• Diwali gifts: Gift exchanging is a vital part in the celebrations of diwali. People buy gifts for their near and dear ones and present them during their visit to their place. Sweets and chocolates are the most popular gift, which they bring for diwali. In some part of the country, people buy jewelry pieces. Buying jewelry during diwali, is considered as auspicious. Apart from sweets and chocolates, there are many gift options such as diwali candles, canvas, wristwatch, flowers, perfume, dresses etc.
  
  
• Diwali foods: During the celebrations of diwali, people make a grand dinner for the dinner. Apart from the family members, extended family members and friends visit one’s house in diwali. A lavish feast is arranged for all by the hosts. Some people even throw diwali party at their house. People make different sweets on this occasion. Generally, they follow their culture and tradition to make diwali foods. For this reason, every state in India offer their specialties in diwali dinner.
  
  
• Diwali wishes: Diwali is the time, when everyone meets, greets, and exchange good wishes with their near and dear ones. This is a time when everyone forget about his or her differences of opinions and wants to celebrate the festival together. If you want to wish your family and friends during diwali celebrations, you can have instant diwali wishes on the internet. You can have idea or also can send those wishes online to your dear ones. You can attach the diwali wish with the diwali gift to make it more special.
  
  
• Diwali fireworks: Fireworks are the integral part of the celebrations of diwali. Everyone, especially the kids of a family are eager to light firecrackers and fireworks on the diwali evening. Some people make fireworks at their house while some buy them from the market. There are different types of fireworks available in the market. As the festival is also known as the ‘Festival of Lights’, fireworks and firecrackers enhance the grandeur of the celebrations.