The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit deepavali, which means a row of lights.
The festival of Diwali symbolises the victory of light over dark, good over evil and knowledge over darkness.
Diwali
(01 of22)
An Indian Sikh devotee holds a child as they take a dip in the holy sarover (water tank) during Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on October 23, 2014. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, to mark the return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, who was freed from imprisonment and also managed to release 52 political prisoners at the same time from Gwalior fort by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:NARINDER NANU via Getty Images)
(02 of22)
Indians crowd a market selling marigold flowers early morning on Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Marigold flowers are popularly used as offerings and for rituals and decorations during Hindu festivals. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(03 of22)
Indian Sikh devotees gather on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on October 23, 2014. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, to mark the return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, who was freed from imprisonment and also managed to release 52 political prisoners at the same time from Gwalior fort by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:NARINDER NANU via Getty Images)
(04 of22)
Roadside vendors prepare garlands of marigold early morning at a market on Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Marigold flowers are popularly used as offerings and for rituals and decorations during Hindu festivals. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(05 of22)
A Nepalese Hindu performs worship rituals to a cow during Tihar festival celebrations in Katmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Cows are considered sacred to Hindus and are worshipped during Tihar festival, one of the most important Hindu festivals dedicated to the Goddess of wealth Laxmi. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(06 of22)
A Nepalese Hindu offers a banana to a cow after performing worship rituals during Tihar festival celebrations in Katmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Cows are considered sacred to Hindus and are worshipped during Tihar festival, one of the most important Hindu festivals dedicated to the Goddess of wealth Laxmi. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(07 of22)
Children with special needs light firecrackers as they celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights at the Shishu Sarathi School in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(08 of22)
A Nihang, or a Sikh warrior, wearing traditional headgear pays obeisance standing in front of the illuminated Golden Temple, Sikhs holiest shrine, early morning on Bandi Chhor Divas that coincides with Diwali festival, in Amritsar, India, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. The day marks the release of the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind, from a prison and his return to Amritsar where he was welcomed with thousands of lights and lamps. (AP Photo/Prabhjot Gill) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(09 of22)
Children with special needs light firecrackers as they celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights at the Shishu Sarathi School in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(10 of22)
A Nepalese policeman showers vermillion powder and flower petals on a police dog during Tihar festival celebrations at a police kennel division in Katmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. Dogs are worshipped to acknowledge their role in providing security during Tihar festival, one of the most important Hindu festivals also dedicated to the worship of the Goddess of wealth Laxmi. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(11 of22)
Indians buy foods as offering materials for worship at a roadside market prior to Diwali in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights will be celebrated is most parts of India on Oct. 23.(AP Photo/ Bikas Das) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(12 of22)
A Hindu devotee offers a prayer in front of a god statue of Meenakshi Amman during Diwali, or the Hindu festival of lights, at Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(13 of22)
Indian passengers rest on a crowded platform ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at a railway station in Kanpur, India, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014. Hindus light lamps and pray to Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, on the festival that will be celebrated on Oct 23. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(14 of22)
Indian laborers carry a huge idol of Hindu goddess Kali ahead of the Kali Puja festival in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014. Kali Puja primarily celebrated in the West Bengal region coinciding with the Diwali festival falls on Oct. 23. (AP Photo/ Bikas Das) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(15 of22)
Hindu devotees offer prayers during Diwali, or the Hindu festival of lights, at Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(16 of22)
Indians buy lanterns and lamps from roadside stalls ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights in Mumbai, India, Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. Diwali will be celebrated is most parts of India on Oct. 23.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(17 of22)
Indians buy lanterns and lamps from roadside stalls ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights in Mumbai, India, Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. Diwali will be celebrated is most parts of India on Oct. 23.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(18 of22)
NEW DELHI, INDIA - OCTOBER 22: Children light candles on the eve of Hindu festival Diwali on October 22, 2014 in New Delhi, India. Diwali also known as Deepavali and the festival of lights, is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair. (Photo by Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(19 of22)
BHOPAL, INDIA - OCTOBER 22: Girls light earthen lamps on the eve of Hindu festival Diwali on October 22, 2014 in Bhopal, India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to all Indians that they should buy earthen diyas and lamps from the street sellers instead of imported Chinese lights. Lightning traditional earthen lamps is not only environment friendly but will help in sustaining livelihood of the millions of potters across India who are facing tough time due to increasing use of Fridges and electric lamps. (Photo by Praveen Bajpai/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(20 of22)
KOLKATA, INDIA - 2014/10/22: India Tollywood Actress, Rimjhim Mitra celebrates Diwali with street children at Kolkata. (Photo by Bhaskar Mallick/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) (credit:Pacific Press via Getty Images)
(21 of22)
NOIDA, INDIA OCTOBER 22: An artist giving final touches to the idols of goddess Kali for the Kali Puja that coincides with the Diwali on October 22, 2014 in Noida, India. The goddess Kali is believed to be an embodiment of shakti and an avatar of Goddess Durga. She is worshiped on a new moon night in states of West Bengal and Orissa. (Photo by Sunil Ghosh/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(22 of22)
Indian Sikh devotees gather on the eve of Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on October 22, 2014. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, to mark the return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, who was freed from imprisonment and also managed to release 52 political prisoners at the same time from Gwalior fort by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:NARINDER NANU via Getty Images)
Fireworks, candles and lanterns are used to brighten up the skies and cows, thought to be a reincarnation of the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi.
Even dogs join the in the fun, receiving garlands of marigolds and dustings of petals as thanks for providing security.
The start of a new year in the traditional Hindu calendar, it also marks the start of a new business year in the accounting world. Some historians believe the five day celebration performs a kind of harvest festival function, celebrating the end of a fruitful season.
It’s traditional to gamble on Diwali, as legend as it that Lady Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiv on this day. Gamble on Diwali and you will be rewarded have luck throughout the year.