What does Diwali mean to me?

At work, i needed to write something on Halloween and so i started reading up about it. i'm supposed to write banner and newsletter copy inducing people to buy flowers on this occasion. Since, i have never celebrated or even seen Halloween celebrations, i wanted to gain thorough knowledge about it to write better. That got me thinking, how much of the actual write-up that is floating around on the internet is part of the common man's celebration of such occasions? Diwali for example, the biggest of it all. As per one of the beliefs, Diwali is supposed to be celebrated for Lord Ram's return from his exile (banwaas). For Jains, it is the time when Lord Mahavira attained Moksha and contrary to pompous celebrations, one is supposed to fast for 2 days. For me, it's been about sweets, new clothes, puja at office (Pa's and later mine), bursting the shagun firecrackers, shagun rangoli, sometimes holidaying, buying gold on Dhanteras and stressful cleaning of the house... For many years, it was about going to Harish Kaka's home at Solapur and taking part in the puja. It was a time for togetherness, getting cash and going to neighbours' houses to eat sweetmeats flaunting new clothes :) i love the traditional Lakshmi puja, which always made me hopeful that it'll bring loads of riches into our lives. The thought is still so alluring :) We would then take off on a holiday to someplace close. Last year was the only year i was not home. i was in Australia with Maishu :) And believe me, no matter how comfortable you are in a foreign country, during festive times and specially during Diwali, you miss being home. Since the time i started working, i have hardly been part of the cleaning but still they do screw up the weekends. Then there is the stress of going to the beauty parlour and finishing shopping on time and sending out gifts on time. Since the last 2 years, we've been going to J's house for lakshmi puja. That is fun too. But it is sister's in-laws place :), so you know how it would be. I've a rule - for Diwali, New Year's and my birthday, no matter how many new clothes i have, i buy new clothes :) And that makes me extremely happy. i hope this Diwali is superbly different and superbly fun :) Amen!