This year people of India are celebrating Deepavali in the first weeks of November. Celebrations start from November 4th and continues upto November 7th. Deepavali means a row of lights, and is popularly known as the festival of lights. According to Hindu religious calendar festival falls on the last two days of the month of Kartika. Celebration starts with 14th day of the month of 'Ashwija' (According to hindu religious calendar), and ends with the first day of the month of Kartika (According to hindu religious calendar).
The most significant spiritual meaning of the festival is the awareness of the inner light. Usually people celebrates it for three days. First day celebration is called Naraka Chaturdashi. Next day is Lakshmi Pooja, and the last day celebration is Balipadya.
Mode of celebration is different from place to place as in some parts of the country people celebrate the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. People of West Bengal, North-Eastern part of India performed pooja of Kali, a Hindu goddess. Occasion is also commemorates with the returning of Rama, a Hindu god to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. It also commemorates with the killing of Narakasura, a demon by Shri Krishna, another god of Hindu.
The homes would be cleaned and decorated by day and illuminated by night with earthern oil-lamps. People in South India take an oil bath which is regarded as an action of purifying their body in the morning and wear new clothes, and greets one another.
Deepavali is a great unifying force as the people of different sects coming together and gather at one place to celebrate the festival. On this day Hindu merchants open their new account books and pray for success and prosperity during the coming year.
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