Diwali is the biggest Indian festival of the year. Diwali to Indians is like Christmas to Christians around the world. Though it is a Hindu festival, it is celebrated all over India by people of all religions.

According to the Hindu holy book, The Ramayana, Diwali is celebrated the day Lord Rama (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) came back to his kingdom after vanquishing the demon king Ravaana. The people in Lord Ram’s kingdom celebrated the king’s return by lighting up the new moon night in Ayodhya. The lights signify the end of a dark period in the history of the kingdom and a promise of better, brighter days ahead.

Over the centuries, Diwali has evolved into being more than just a religious festival and different Hindu sects have their own meaning attached to the festival. The main theme of a festival of hope and new beginnings unifies all the various different versions of the ancient story behind Diwali.