Have you ever heard of Diwali? Diwali is the traditional Hindu festival of lights and it takes place on October 19th this year.

Diwali celebrations last for five days with each day having its own traditional rituals. The celebrations starts with Dhanteras, an auspicious day in which people buy silverware or gold for their tables. It is believed that new "Dhan," or some form of precious metal, bought on this day is a sign of good luck. The second day is Choti Diwali where celebrants start decorating their houses with lights. Badi Diwali is the main festive day. On this day, people visit each other's houses with desserts and gifts, burn fire crackers and spend time with family and friends. The fourht day is Govardhan Puja, which in some tellings involves the delivery of a mountain of food. The five-day holiday comes to an end with Bhai Dooj when people pray for the well being of their friends and neighbors for the coming year.

To learn more about Diwali, click here.