The main night — deepavali, "a row of lamps." Homes are lined with diyas to welcome Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, and to mark Rama's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over Ravana in the Ramayana; legend holds the city lit lamps to guide him home in the dark.
कार्तिक अमावस्या · दिन ३
Beyond Rama's return, Diwali also marks Krishna's victory over Narakasura (echoing the previous day), and in Jain tradition, Mahavira's attainment of moksha on this same night — a calendar date shared across faiths, each with its own meaning.
Businesses across India traditionally open new account books, Chopda Pujan, on this night as a mark of financial renewal. Homes are cleaned and decorated with rangoli for days beforehand in preparation.