Nepali devotees worship a cow as part of the Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday, November 11. Diwali, or Tihar, also known as the festival of lights, is celebrated by millions around the world.
Nepali devotees worship a cow as part of the Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday, November 11. Diwali, or Tihar, also known as the festival of lights, is celebrated by millions around the world.
Sunil Pradhan/NurPhoto/AP
A Hindu woman lights candles during Diwali celebrations at a temple in Lahore, Pakistan, on November 11.
A Hindu woman lights candles during Diwali celebrations at a temple in Lahore, Pakistan, on November 11.
K.M. Chaudary/AP
Children play with firecrackers during festivities in New Delhi on November 11.
Children play with firecrackers during festivities in New Delhi on November 11.
Altaf Qadri/AP
Devotees gather outside of a temple to take part in a religious procession in Chitrakoot, India, on November 11.
Devotees gather outside of a temple to take part in a religious procession in Chitrakoot, India, on November 11.
Ritesh Shukla/NurPhoto/AP
Homes are illuminated in Mumbai, India, on November 11. The festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil and light over darkness.
Homes are illuminated in Mumbai, India, on November 11. The festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil and light over darkness.
Rafiq Maqbool/AP
A trader performs rituals as he worships his account book November 11 in Ahmedabad, India. The swastika is a sacred symbol in Hinduism.
A trader performs rituals as he worships his account book November 11 in Ahmedabad, India. The swastika is a sacred symbol in Hinduism.
Ajit Solanki/AP
A sky lantern is released in Mumbai on November 11.
A sky lantern is released in Mumbai on November 11.
Rajanish Kakade/AP
Hindu widows in Vrindavan, India, burn firecrackers on the eve of Diwali on Tuesday, November 10.
Hindu widows in Vrindavan, India, burn firecrackers on the eve of Diwali on Tuesday, November 10.
HARISH TYAGI/EPA/LANDOV
Men and women light candles at a temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on November 10.
Men and women light candles at a temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on November 10.
ABIR ABDULLAH/EPA/LANDOV
Packets of firecrackers are arranged at a shop in Jammu, India, on November 10.
Packets of firecrackers are arranged at a shop in Jammu, India, on November 10.
Channi Anand/AP
Women shop at a roadside stall in Mumbai on November 10.
Women shop at a roadside stall in Mumbai on November 10.
Rafiq Maqbool/AP
Lanterns are on display in Mumbai on November 10.
Lanterns are on display in Mumbai on November 10.
Rafiq Maqbool/AP
The city of Indore, India, is soaked in light and celebration ahead of Diwali on November 10.
The city of Indore, India, is soaked in light and celebration ahead of Diwali on November 10.
Shankar Mourya/Hindustan Times/Getty Images
Athletes watch fireworks at the Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium in Allahabad, India, on November 10.
Athletes watch fireworks at the Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium in Allahabad, India, on November 10.
SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images
Diwali 2015: The festival of lights

Editor’s Note: The article below was originally published in October 2014 and has been updated.

Story highlights

Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, began Wednesday

The five-day holiday celebrates the triumph of good over evil

People worldwide celebrate Diwali with colorful displays of lights and fireworks

CNN  — 

The Hindu holiday of Diwali is India’s biggest and brightest national holiday. But Indians around the world come together to celebrate the festival of lights.

The five-day celebration of good over evil is as important to Hindus as Christmas is to Christians, and it marks the start of a new financial year for Indian businesses worldwide. But how much do you know about this global holiday, which began Wednesday? Here are some facts and stats to help you improve your Diwali literacy.

1. Diwali or Deepavali means rows of lights or lamps

Diwali is known as the festival of lights because of the oil lamps and electric lights that people use to decorate homes, businesses and public spaces. As a celebration of the victory of good over evil and light over darkness, light is an important physical and spiritual symbol of the holiday.

2. The name for a Hindu place of worship is “mandir”

Christianity has churches, Judaism has synagogues, Islam has mosques and Hinduism has mandirs. On Diwali, Indians living abroad gather in mandirs for community celebrations. People leave offerings of food at the altars of different gods and gather for communal meals. Some mandirs host fireworks displays.

For many Indians, Diwali honors Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. They light their homes and open their doors and windows to welcome her. In addition to Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs also celebrate Diwali in such countries as Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Singapore. Legends and customs accompanying Diwali celebrations vary among religions and regions.

4. People spend a lot of time getting ready

Families spend days cleaning and decorate their homes in preparation for Diwali. They also shop for new clothes and outfits to wear to celebrations. Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of ways to go about this, from arts and crafts to makeup tricks to help you “shimmer, shine and sparkle.”

5. Diwali is a big celebration in England, too

In 2014, about 30,000 people attended a “switch-on” of more than 6,000 lamps in Leicester to mark the start of Diwali. Indians are the second-largest minority in Britain, according to IBT.

6. An episode of “The Office” was dedicated to Diwali

In one of few depictions of the holiday in American pop culture, bumbling Dunder Mifflin boss Michael Scott encourages his staff to support Kelly Kapoor by attending a local Diwali celebration. Cringe-worthy moments ensue.