A holiday does not necessarily exclude doing normal work: the relatively minor Jewish holiday of Chanukah has been described as a " working holiday " and those who celebrate a holiday such as Diwali may have to work a normal schedule in countries where it is not a public holiday.

During the night of Diwali, holy hymns are recited and meditation is done on Mahavira.

* Shrutha panchami or Gyan Panchami is on the fifth day of the fortnight of the waxing moon of Kartik ( the fifth day after Diwali ).

* The Marwari New Year is celebrated on the day of the festival of Diwali, which is the last day Krishna Paksha of Ashvin month & also last day of the Ashvin month of Hindu calendar.

* The Gujarati New Year is celebrated the day after the festival of Diwali ( which occurs in mid-fall – either October or November, depending on the Lunar calendar ).

Ashoka, the South Asian student association, puts on a performance for Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, that includes a skit and dances ; Black Anthology is a student-run performance arts show celebrating black culture ; Lunar New Year Festival is a collaboration between the many East Asian organizations on campus culminating in a show to celebrate the holiday with a skit and dances from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cultures ; the Association of Latin American Students showcases various forms of Latin and Spanish dances during their performance, Carnaval.

Noise pollution is a major problem in countries like India during the festivals of Diwali, Navratri and Ganpati.

Kubera is worshipped with Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth during Diwali, which is primarily dedicated to her – usually on the Dhanteras day.

In Jammu, it is used widely as a prasad ( offering ) to Mother Goddess Vaisnav Devi and, generally, as a dry food in the season of festivals such as Diwali.

Thus, for example, " Diwali " is the name not of a song, but of a riddim created by Lenky Marsden, subsequently used as the basis for several songs, such as Sean Paul's " Get Busy " and Bounty Killer's " Sufferer.

Diwali ( also spelled Devali in certain regions ) or Deepavali, popularly known as the " festival of lights ," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons.

For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes.

Diwali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, and Fiji.

The name " Diwali " is a contraction of " Deepavali " ( ), which translates into " row of lamps ".

It is on the fourth day of Diwali, Kartika Shudda Padyami, that Bali went to patala and took the reins of his new kingdom in there.

* Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Diwali and is the day Krishna defeated Indra, the deity of thunder and rain.

Rangoli, decorations made from coloured powder, is popular during Diwali

While Diwali is popularly known as the " festival of lights ", the most significant spiritual meaning is " the awareness of the inner light ".

* The Marwari New Year is celebrated on the day of the festival of Diwali, which is the last day Krishna Paksha of Ashvin month & also last day of the Ashvin month of Hindu calendar.

* The Gujarati New Year is celebrated the day after the festival of Diwali ( which occurs in mid-fall – either October or November, depending on the Lunar calendar ).

The 14th ( elsewhere known as Naraka Chaturdashi in South India and Choti Diwali in the North ) is celebrated as Kali Choudas.

This will be burst by a person dressed as Lord Krishna or, more accurately, a costume of Satyabhama, the consort of Lord Krishna, who actually killed the demon Narakasura ; an event that is celebrated as Diwali for generations.

Diwali is celebrated in various parts of the world, particularly those with large populations of Hindu and Sikh origin.

With more and more Indians now migrating to various parts of the world, the number of countries where Diwali / Deepavali is celebrated has been gradually increasing.

In most of these countries Diwali is celebrated on the same lines as described in this article with some minor variations.

In Malaysia, Diwali festival is celebrated during the seventh month of the Hindu solar calendar.

Diwali was first celebrated in the White House in 2003 and was given official status by the United States Congress in 2007.

In Australia, Diwali is celebrated publicly among the people of Indian origin and the local Australians in Melbourne.

Other place where Diwali is celebrated in Melbourne is Sri Shiva Vishnu Temple, Carrum Downs.

In New Zealand, Diwali is celebrated publicly among many of the South Asian diaspora cultural groups.

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus.

Hence, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Vijaya Dashami, Navaratri are main festivals celebrated along with Holi known as festival of colors.

Since then, this day is celebrated in India as Deepawali or Diwali.

Lakshmi's biggest festival, however, is Diwali ( or Deepavali ; the " Festival of Lights "), a major Hindu holiday celebrated across India.

A mela, or religious fair, is held at Kuti every year on the auspicious day of Kartik Purnima-the first full moon after Diwali, which is also celebrated as Guru Nanak's birthday by the Sikh community-and people from villages far and near come to pray and pay their obeisance.

It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism, but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion.

The festival of Bhau-beej or Bhai Dooj or Bhai Phota is celebrated by Hindus on the last day of the five-day-long Diwali festival.

* Cultural Shows – Each year Washington University student groups put on several multicultural shows, one of which sells out within hours of tickets going on sale ( Diwali ).

While not a large occasion for the Buddhist community, Newar Buddhists celebrate Diwali through the chanting of mantras and remembering Emperor Ashoka who is said to have converted to Buddhism on this day, and therefore Buddhists also know the festival as Ashok Vijayadashami.

In Gujarat the Diwali celebrations take on a number of distinct characteristics.

Festivities cut across boundaries to move on from the small villages to the big towns, often beginning almost a month before Diwali.

Celebrations include Lakshmi puja on the Diwali day, Krishna puja or Govardhan puja and cattle worship on Balipratipada day, Bhaubeej, and Tulsi vivah.

Mehndi is applied on women's hands at a Diwali Mela.

Diwali also coincides with British Bonfire Night traditions on November the 5th.

The first Inaugural Diwali Festival-2002 ”, was held at Sandown Race Course on Sunday 13 October 2002.

Lakshmi Parayan ( prayer ) is performed in most Hindu homes on the day of Diwali, the festival of lights.

The film premiered at the Liberty Cinema in Bombay during Diwali week on 25 October 1957, where it ran continuously for more than a year.