NARRATOR: Diwali is a festival of lights symbolizing
the victory of good or evil and has been celebrated
for more than 2,500 years.
The holiday is one of the most significant festivals
in India and in many other South Asian
communities around the world.
It's celebrated in the month of Karthik
according to the Hindu Lunisolar calendar
and typically falls sometime in October or November.
The five day festival has a unique set
of rituals for each day.
The third day of Diwali is the main one in which people
worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, for prosperity,
and happiness.
On this day, people clean their houses
and decorate the floors with Rangoli,
designs made of colored rice or colored powder.
As it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi only
enters the house if the house is clean and well-decorated.
Everyone wears their finest outfits, eats hearty meals,
and shares delicious sweets with friends and family.
As the dusk sets in, candles or small clay lamps
called Diyas are set around the house,
while fireworks light up the sky.
Diwali is a festival full of love and joy celebrating
the power of light over darkness.
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