Diwali: Hindu Festival of Lights in India has many ways to celebrate

(CNN) — 

Diwali is one of the most important Hindu festivals in India, but the colorful customs and meanings associated with it can vary depending on where you travel in the country.

Diwali is a five-day Hindu festival, known as the Festival of Lights. It is a contraction of the word Deepavali, which means row of lights in Sanskrit.

In the north, Diwali is often a raucous affair, marked by a cacophony of firecrackers on the streets and a flourish of ceremonial gambling in the home.

The wealthier urban dwellers splurge on gold, jewelry, clothes and expensive gifts such as electronics, which they buy for themselves and their loved ones.

In the quiet villages, such as those dotted around the vast state of Maharashtra in the west of India, the Festival of Lights celebration is generally a simpler affair, defined by humble offerings and wholesome feasts.... (Read More)