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In Hinduism, Dhanvantari, the lord of medicine, an avatar of Lord Vishnu (one of the principal deities of Hinduism), is also worshipped on the first day of Diwali. Hindus pray to him for sound health for themselves and for their loved ones. Since 2016, the government of India declared Dhanteras as National Ayurveda Day, honoring the physician's compassion and wisdom. Now, it's customary for homes to be scrubbed clean on this day.

All that glitters is gold on Dhanteras, the 13th day of the lunar month of Kartik and the first day of Diwali. Over time, it has become one of the most auspicious days to shop. Typically, women bought metal utensils and gold. But these days, sales of everything—ranging from electronics and luxury cars to gold and silver ornaments—reach record numbers year after year. According to The Times of London, in anticipation of Diwali, gold sales were up 32 percent in September and the first half of October in 2019, compared to the same period last year

The Delhi government is encouraging Diwali celebrants to use green crackers, which would release at least 30 percent less particulate matter and 20 percent less gases—namely, sulphur oxide and nitrous oxide—according to The Hindu. The government also plans to hold laser shows in the heart of the city for four days, hopefully dissuading people from bursting firecrackers.

During Diwali, phuljhadis, anaars, bombs, snakes, and rockets are traditionally burst to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. But the popularity of pyrotechnics is waning, due to rising concerns about pollution and degrading air quality.

The lighting of the lamps during Diwali is symbolic of the journey toward abundance and affluence, and indicates wealth and power, according to Pattanaik. Diwali is "the time to light lamps to drive away darkness, burst crackers to drive away silence, and eat sweets to drive away bitter and sour tastes," writes Pattanaik.

During Diwali, Hindus hope for a visit from the Goddess Lakshmi, which is believed to bring prosperity. She is welcomed into homes with lamps kept burning through the night and tiny replicas of her feet facing towards the home. In addition to the rangoli, people also draw these artful padukas (imprints of Goddess Lakshmi's feet) using white rice or rice flour paste.

According to popular Hindu lore, the origins of Diwali are associated with the legend of samudra manthan (the churning of the ocean). Goddess Lakshmi—the goddess of wealth and prosperity, who is seen seated on a lotus—was churned from the ocean when the devtas and the asuras (gods and the demons) were locked in battle for Amrit (the nectar of life)

Diwali is also historically incredibly important for traders and money-lenders, notes Devdutt Pattanaik, an author and leading mythologist in India. "If the harvest was good, debts were repaid and both farmers and money-lenders celebrated their fortune," he writes on his website. "If harvests were bad, this was a time of intense prayer and rituals in hope of a better future"

The origins of Diwali trace back to being a post-monsoon harvest festival, celebrating the bounty following the heavy rains. It was also a crucial time, because it was the last harvest before winter.

If we go by the Gregorian calendar, Diwali can fall in October or November. The reason the holiday's dates differ is because it's based on the Hindu lunar calendar. The festival commences two days before the new moon, and ends two days after it. In 2019, Diwali falls on October 27th—the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month of the Hindu lunar calendar. (The panchang, a nifty Hindu almanac, is a great resource to check accurate dates of festivals and auspicious times.)