Celebrating Diwali in Mumbai is a unique experience.

This festival comes somewhere in

mid of November. It is one of the most unique and famous festivals in Mumbai because
of the light, color and pomp it is celebrated with. This festival is celebrated commonly by
every and all communities.

It is called the festival of lights as most places are decorated with new lights and bright
colours. In a traditional Diwali celebration, the colour of celebration stretches from the
newly painted walls to the outdoor rangolis – intricate designs made with coloured sand
- on the door steps.

Decorations of Diwali with lighting and small blinking bulbs on the door, a kandil a fancy
lamp having electric bulbs on every door steps and on most of the windows seen from
the public walking roads, to the crackers spreading light at night with wonderful colours
and spark in air, ‘varandas’, terrace etc.

Its feels good to get all these things together with a spiritual god worship and holy
positive vibrations all over Mumbai and other parts of India.

Day 1: ‘vagh baras’ which is a day to clear all financial of the year according to Hindu
community belief and repeating all financial debts to get ready for fresh new beginning.
Day 2: next comes ‘dhan teras’ a wealth and money worship day, when ‘Laxmi pooja’ is
done and all the local market business prays for more wealth and money in business all
over Mumbai and in India.
Day 3: then is ‘Diwali (Deepawali)’ the day of celebration with lights and sweets. In
ancient times as electricity was not available, people use to light fire ‘diva’ which is a
small round cup kind of thing in which oil and cotton was used to fire and light it. Even
now that beautiful ritual is followed in many homes, keeping ‘diyas / divas’ on rangoli
made. And very next day is new year day after Diwali day for Hindus.
Day 4: next is ‘bhai beej’, very next day after Diwali when all sisters pray and meet their
brothers and offers varieties of food.
Day 5: then comes ‘labh pacham’ they day when all local businesses starts again, a
fresh new business deals starts on this day as it was completely stopped for last 3 days
for ‘dhan teras’ and ‘vagh baras’ till Diwali day.
Finally, on 10th day after ‘labh pacham’, day comes known as ‘dev Diwali ‘celebration (dev
means ‘god’), which means Diwali celebrated by god. This day is typically known as ‘tulsi vivah’
marriage of a very well-known plant ‘tulsi’ with some mythological story behind it.