Diwali is the festival of lights and is celebrated all over the world by Indians with great joy and in anticipation that it will bring prosperity to everyone.
The original name is Deepavali that has been shortened to Diwali.
Diwali is celebrated equally by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains alike, although for different reasons.
The five-day long festival of Diwali starts in the month of October or November, when the new season starts.
The day of Diwali is also considered as the start of the New Year in many regions.
For the year 2011, Diwali is on 26th October.
A lot of things have seen a change both in India and abroad.
The way people behave and act during the festive season might have changed, but the essence remains the same.
The most important part of Diwali is the lighting of the lamps known as divas in and around the house, windows, doors etc.
Lamps are treated as a symbol of hope and joy.
Light drives away the darkness of the night and brings new faith in to people's lives.
Even though different states in India celebrate Diwali in almost in the same way there is lot of local variations in the celebrations.
People prepare for the occasion by cleaning and redecorate their houses and workplaces.
On the day almost all over India and indeed Indians all over the world Diwali is celebrated by visiting friends, relatives and temples.
Also sweets are eaten and given, Firecrackers are lit to add more light to the festivities.
People buy gold and silver ornaments, worship goddess Laxmi, and pray for fortune all year-long.
Some also believe in buying new utensils on this day.
The common belief is that spending wealth on this day attracts more wealth.
Hindu celebration of Diwali is linked to the return of Lord Sri Rama to Ayodhya after winning the war with Ravana.
Lord Sri Rama initially stayed in the jungle for 14 years to for fill the promise his father had given to one of his wife's during which Ravanna kidnapped Load Rama's wife Sita.
Lord Rama fought a war with Ravana and won.
To celebrate the coming back of Lord Rama and Sita, people of Ayodhya decorated their homes with lamps.
For Sikhs, Diwali celebrates the release from prison the sixth guru, Guru Hargobindji and 52 princes in 1619 who were imprisoned by Mughal emperor Jahangir in Gwalior, India.