India is known as the land of festivals. Every festival has its own place but my favourite festival is Diwali.

Every autumn I go to stay with my cousins, so we can celebrate Diwali together. Diwali is the biggest Hindu festival and people celebrate it all over the world. It is a magical time for children because of the lights. We light candles and lamps, called diyas, in our homes. All the streets, houses and shops are decorated with light. Diwali comes from the anskrit word Deepawali which means !rows of lights". Diwali, the festival of lights, heralds the new Hindu years. According to popular belief it is very auspicious to light up our homes on Diwali as it attracts #akshmi, the $oddess of good fortune, wealth and prosperity. %n Diwali, pandits also tell the legend of the Hindu god, #ord &ama. He had a beautiful wife, ita. he was captured by the demon king &avana. #ord &ama fought &avana and rescued his wife. %n Diwali, we celebrate #ord &ama"s return with his wife and younger brother to Ayodhya. It signifies that good triumphs over evil. 'eople light lamps to celebrate #ord &ama"s victory. %n the morning of Diwali, I go to the temple with my family. %n this occasion, we get dressed in our best clothes. (y grandmother always buys me a new sari to wear for Diwali every year. We spend a long time getting ready, putting on bright clothes and )ewellery. #ots of our friends come to the temple and we sing, dance and en)oy ourselves. (y cousin plays an Indian instrument called harmonium at the temple. *here are always delicious sweet foods to eat. *his starts five days of celebrations, my favourite five days of the year. +ack at my ,ncle"s house we e-change presents and eat lots of good Indian food. (any more relatives come over to celebrate with us and it is a very special time for families. If anyone has had an argument it is a good time to make friends and forget the past. ome people say that it is a sort of .hristmas for Hindus. *he Asian community is very proud of their celebrations. *here is very big crowd with music, dancing and fireworks. Diwali lights are switched on in the streets and we have a big party in the streets on Diwali day Every year, Diwali falls in %ctober or /ovember. /ot only in India, but also in Asian countries, Diwali is celebrated with great )oy and happiness.