In most parts of India, Diwali will be celebrated on November 7 this year, but in the southern parts of India, it is being celebrated today which is November 6. The Diwali celebrations usually last for five days starting with Dhanteras, Chhoti Diwali, Badi Diwali, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj.
Diwali is celebrated by lighting public and private places, such as houses and temples. People rejoice good over evil and the victory of light over dark on this day and celebrate the return of Lord Rama from Ayodhya. Diwali falls in the month of Karthik as per the Hindu calendar.
It is auspicious to buy new items for the house before Diwali. People clean or renovate their houses and buy or repair their furniture before Diwali. In India, Diwali is a public holiday declared by the government.
The most common tradition is associated with Ramayana and it concerns the defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama. The main Diwali or the Badi Diwali is called Lakshmi Pujan in which Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are worshiped. This year, the auspicious time for conducting the pujan during Diwali will be 5.57 PM and 7.53 PM. The puja is recited by all the members of the family and divine devotional songs are also sung.