In Himachal Pradesh, Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The mud
walls of the houses are cleaned and painted over with white clay and
cow-dung. In the courtyards a red or black square is painted with colored
clay. This is decorated with pictures of animals and birds. The walls are
decorated with flower garlands. People believe that Lakshmi who is the
goddess of wealth visit all the houses this day and settles down in the
house which is clean and pretty.
After sunset, clay lamps are lit on a plank in the memory of the departed
ancestors. Afterward they are placed within the houses. Sweets are
distributed and the young one seek the blessings of the elderly. Goats are
sacrificed on this day. Women paint little vessels (Auloo) with clay and
decorate it with drawings in red paint. They pray to these and exchange
these with their best friends.
On the day of Diwali, soaked rice is powdered and designs are made out of
that. At night time, the young girl worship this design with grass and
camphor. At some places, a figure of Lakshmi made with sandalwood is placed
in a copper plate and a mandav of sugarcane is made over it. Goddess Lakshmi
is specially worshiped on this day.
