Perhaps the most photogenic moment of Diwali, the rangoli which is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning color is a design pattern that you make on the floor using colored sand, rice, powders or flower petals. And it is not to go undocumented! People spend hours crafting intricate rangolis, which they light up with tea candles at night.
One of the biggest Diwali traditions is that Indians open up their homes to their family and friends, who, in turn, bring those gifts. This means that the majority of Indians spend the day both visiting their friends and family, and hosting them at their own house basically, it’s one big hangout. Important note: while it’s customary in many cultures to give alcohol as a gift, this isn’t appropriate on Diwali.
Indians believe that Diwali is an auspicious (lucky) time to declutter, because good spirits are more likely to waft in and flow around when there isn’t as much clutter to block them. As a visitor, you probably won’t have to do any cleaning yourself, but it’s good to know that most of the places you visit will look extra clean and magical, thanks to the Diwali touch.
