According to Hindu reckoning, the date of Diwali falls on the 15th

According to Hindu reckoning, the date of Diwali falls on the 15th day of the dark fortnight in the auspicious Hindu month of Kartik or the month of October/November in the English calendar. This Diwali day falls on the amavasya or the no moon day. The Diwali date comes 20 days after the popular festival of Dussehra or Vijaya Dashmi. Diwali 2010 date is on Friday, November 5th.

Diwali is an occasion where every member of a family is involved in the preparations weeks in advance. From getting the house cleaned, spruced up and painted, making elaborate rangolis (folk art), planning the special dishes, visits to the temples, friends, relatives and exchange diwali gifts. With the passage of time, Diwali has evolved into a community festival. People gather as a community for the celebrations. Even Diwali shopping is in its full swing days before the Deepavali day.