diwali is perhaps the most well-known of the hindu festivals...
the word diwali means 'rows of lighted lamps'...
diwali is known as the 'festival of lights' because houses, shops and public places are decorated with small earthenware oil lamps called diyas...
for many indians this 5 day festival honours lakshmi, the goddes of wealth...
people start the new business year at diwali, and some hindus will say prayers to the goddes for a successful year...
lamps are lit to help lakshmi, the goddes of wealth, find her way into people's homes...
they also celebrate one of the diwali legends, which tells of the return of rama and sita to rama's kingdom after 14 years of exile...
in britain, as in india, the festival is a time for spring-cleaning the home, wearing new clothes, exchanging gifts, preparing festive meals, decorating buildings with fancy lights and there will be huge firework displays...
in india hindus will leave the windows and doors of their houses open so that lakshmi can come in...
rangoli are drawn on the floors- rangoli are patterns and the most popular subject is the lotus flower...
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