Assam, the gateway to the Northeast India is the melting pot of various communities that have lived here harmoniously since ages. Needless to say, there has been huge assimilation of diverse culture amongst the varied population inhabiting the State. This has resulted in the celebration of various festivals throughout the year in this land of the mighty Brahmaputra and tea plantations.

With the onset of autumn, people in Assam celebrate the 5-day long Diwali Festival along with the rest of India. The festival in the State is marked by lighting traditional diyas and candles all round the individual houses. The entrances/gates are specially decorated with a banana tree erected on each side. Bamboo poles were then hung across these trees and traditional lamps are put on top, which offer a breathtaking view for the onlooker. Though electric lights of various color and hue have replaced the traditional diyas in the cities, the rural areas still prefer traditional lamps to celebrate Diwali. The people of Assam believe that Diwali is the time to welcome Lord Rama to Ayodhya from his 14 year exile after defeating Ravana, the king of Lanka. Hence, they celebrate the Lord's homecoming with great pomp and show.

Other activities during Diwali are burning firecrackers by both the young and the old. These firecrackers come in different packages and children specially revel in diwali fireworks like phooljharis, chakaris and play guns with crackers. People also visit each other's places and exchange diwali sweets and other pleasantries. For the young ones it's the time to share this festival of happiness with greeting cards of both ready-made and handcrafted varieties.

Lakshmi Puja, celebrating Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth is an integral part of Diwali celebrations in Assam. On the second and the third day of Diwali Festival, people in Assam observe Kali Puja, both at individual homes and as a community festival. Kali, the incarnation of goddess Durga (symbolizing Shakti), is believed to be the destroyer of evil and people invoke this deity to protect themselves from the dark forces of the world. People perform aarti to the deity and draw beautiful floral designs with colored powders called rangolis to welcome goddess Kali. Some people also refer to Kali Puja as Mahanisha Puja.

The business community in Assam, consisting of mostly Marwaris from Rajasthan celebrates the Dhanteras on the first day of Diwali for wealth and good fortune. They buy jewelries, and crockery items to mark the day. Some businesspersons even perform chopda pujan or veneration of their business books. Beginning new business ventures and fasting are the order of the day.

Bhai Dooj celebrating brother - sister bond comes on the concluding day of Diwali. It is especially very popular amongst the Bengali and the Nepali population of Assam. They call it 'Bhai Phota' and 'Bhai-Tika' respectively. On this day, sisters put tilak on their brothers' forehead for their welfare throughout the year. Gifts are exchanged and special delicacies are prepared on this day. This day conveys the general message of Diwali Festival of bonding with family and friends.