Hindu festival Diwali, or as widely recognized as the festival of lights, is widely celebrated this year, especially in India. It is the biggest event marked by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists worldwide.
The festival usually lasts five days and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika.
However, the Diwali festival during the pandemic was restricted as India used to record a huge number of daily cases and deaths. This year, amid Covid-19 restrictions easy, the festival of lights was widely and celebrated more openly.
During Diwali, people wear new clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with diyas and rangoli, perform worship ceremonies of Lakshmi, who is the goddess of prosperity and wealth. They also light fireworks and partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared.
