Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)

In the north, Rama's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years, the city lit with lamps. In the west, Lakshmi's emergence from the samudra manthan and her worship on the new moon. In the east, Kali Puja on the same night. For Jains, Mahavira's nirvana. For Sikhs, Bandi Chhor Divas, Guru Hargobind's release from Gwalior fort.

Lakshmi and Ganesha worshipped in the evening at the prescribed muhurat, with account books blessed (chopda pujan). Lamps at every threshold, rangoli, new clothes, fireworks, gambling in some households as a token of Lakshmi's favour.

Sweets above all, laddoo, barfi, soan papdi, and regionally faral, mathri, chakli, and Bengali sandesh.

Bengal keeps Kali Puja instead, an entirely different deity and mood, on the same night. Gujarat's Diwali is the year's end, with Bestu Varas the next morning. The south's main day was the previous one. Odisha performs Kaunriya Kathi, calling ancestors with burning jute stems.