Nainsukh, Women with lanterns and fireworks celebrating the festival of Diwali

ca. 1760-1763, Guler (India), British Museum, London, UK. Diwali or Deepawali is an ancient festival and arguably the most important of all Hindu holidays. It is the third day of a five-day-long celebration that also includes the Hindu New Year. Diwali falls on the night of the full moon between mid-October and mid-November. While the story behind the celebration differs from region to region, the most commonly accepted is based on the Ramayana. Diwali commemorates Lord Rama’s return to his kingdom of Ayodhya after fourteen years in exile.