The Festival of Lights, Diwali, is here! One of the biggest and most celebrated festivals in India is coming up. Diwali, commonly referred to as Deepavali, is a festival that is enthusiastically observed throughout India. The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Dipavali’, which means a row of lights and it symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness.

Deepavali festival is celebrated for 5 days. The first day of this five-day festival is Dhanteras, which welcomes and celebrates luck, money, and prosperity. To ward off bad luck and bring in wealth and success, individuals purchase jewelry and household items on Dhanteras and followed by Chhoti Diwali, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, and then Bhai Dooj mark the conclusion of this celebration.

During the Deepavali festival, people dress their best, Homes are decorated vibrantly and the floors inside and outside homes are decorated with diyas and rangoli, consisting of intricate patterns created with coloured sand, rice, or flower petals. In the hopes that Lakshmi may enter a home and bestow wealth and success on the residents, doors and windows are left open.

Taking an oil bath on Naraka Chaturdashi is a tradition followed by Indians. The oil bath on this day signifies a fresh start by erasing all of the ego, wrath, arguments, pride, and jealousy from the previous year. A spiritual and mental purging with new hope, as well as a physical purging of the body. Since it is observed on the night of the new moon (Amavasya), lighting and fireworks play a big part in the Diwali festival. As the Ashwin month finishes and the Kartik month begins on this day, the Diwali celebration also serves as the start of the new year according to the Hindu calendar.

The largest Diwali celebrations outside of India take place in Leicester, a city in the United Kingdom.  Thousands of people congregate in the streets each year to participate in vibrant shows of light, music, and dance performances!

In celebration of India's most vibrant and joyous festival, Aurva brings you this Diwali Puzzle. Here’s a perfect Diwali gift for your friends, family and children. Go on, Light up the Skies!

Explore: Deepavali - The festival of lights puzzle by Aurva