The auspicious Hindu festival of Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is marked with great pomp across the country. Here are some lesser known facts about the Festival of Lights.
1) Diwali falls on a no-moon night, which means it is observed on Amavasya, the 15th day of the holy month of Kartik as per Hindu calendar.2) The foundation of the Golden Temple in Amritsar was laid on Diwali in the year 1577. It is said that the festival took place during the life of the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib.3) Diwali festival is marked with different names across the country and even beyond the borders. In Nepal, it is marked as Tihar ir Swanti. In Malaysia, it is called Hari Diwali. In Thailand, people celebrate Diwali as Lam Kriyongh and light lamps on banana leaves.
4) When it comes to celebrations outside India, the city of Leicester in UK holds one of the largest Diwali celebrations. Here, thousands of people gather in the streets every year during Diwali to enjoy a night full of light, music, and dancing.5) In Bengal, people worship Maa Kali - the destroyer of all evil forces - on Diwali. In Nepal, people worship Lord Krishna and celebrate his victory over the demon king Narakaasura.