Diwali is the Hindu festival welcoming Ram and Sita out of the forest and celebrating the Hindu new year.
Deepvali is the sanskrit word meaning rows of lights.
Some people light decorated candles, some decorated clay diva lamps, and other decorative lights and put them in their windows for the festival. Deepvali is now shortened to the more well known diwali.
We made our own diva lamps and wrote haiku to celebrate Diwali. A diva lamp has a single wick and is usually brightly coloured.
Many festivals are celebrated in India, and some of them are celebrated in some parts of the country only. But Diwali is one of the greatest Indian festivals that is celebrated all over India.
Diwali is a huge family festival starting with worship followed by a celebration breakfast. Families dress in new clothes and jewels and go visiting others. They exchange gifts and sweets. It is a time to forget quarrels and make up with people that are no longer friends. At night every building is lit with little lamps in hopes that Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth will bless them.
The celebration of Diwali lasts for five days.