Diwali 2024: How India celebrates the festival of lights

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and each religion marks different historical events and stories.

Hindus celebrate the return of the deities Rama and Sita to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. They also celebrate the day when Mother Goddess Durga destroys a demon they call Mahisha.

Sikhs especially celebrate the release of the sixth Guru Hargobind Singh in 1619. But Sikhs celebrate this festival before this date.

In fact, the foundation stone of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the holiest place in the Sikh world, was laid on Diwali in 1577.

The founder of Jainism by Lord Mahavira. During Diwali, Jains celebrate the moment they achieve a state they call moksha (nirvana or eternal bliss).

In the days leading up to Diwali, clean and organize the houses. They buy new clothes and exchange sweets and gifts with friends, families and neighbors.

Many Pipo Dey draw traditional designs like rangoli – made from colorful powders – outside their doors to welcome good luck and positivity.

On this day, families worship Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth.

They turn on lamps and leave windows and doors open to help the goddess find her way into the Pipo houses.

Firecrackers are also an important part of the celebrations, but in recent years several states have imposed restrictions or bans as northern Indian states struggle with severe air pollution.

The capital Delhi has a ban on the sale and use of firecrackers during the festival, while states such as Haryana, Punjab and Karnataka restrict the use of firecrackers to certain hours on Diwali evening.