“Diwali is such a big and special occasion for my family. We make sure the house looks its best and start our Diwali shopping a couple of weeks before the big day. We buy new clothes, and sweets and gifts for relatives and friends. My mother also sends sweets that she’s made with relatives and they always taste extra special.

“My husband and I come from northern India, where Diwali is celebrated as the homecoming of King Rama of Ayodhya after a fourteen year exile in the forest. The people of Ayodhya welcomed King Rama by lighting rows of lamps, and Diwali means the ‘festival of lights’.

“Our youngest son is only three years old, but he understands that something very important and exciting is going on with Diwali. My older son makes Diwali cards to send to all the relatives back home, and together we make lovely wrapping paper with gold patterns on it. Next year we hope to go to India to show our kids how big Diwali is there and to be with our parents.

“It’s traditional to spread light to every corner of our home during Diwail, by lighting diyas (tiny oil-filled lamps) and putting pretty fairy lights everywhere. When the lights all go on our son Sunny’s face is a real picture. There is a big Hindu community in Leicester so everyone’s homes look really beautiful.

“On the day of Diwali, I get the kids to help spring (or autumn!) clean the house from top to bottom and together we make some sweets. While we do this I have Gayatri mantra (spiritual chants) playing, and we also make wicks for the lamps. All these things are really important to me and my husband because we remember them from when we were young. We try and mix all the things we both remember about Diwali, because no two families celebrate it in exactly the same way.

“My children seem to really enjoy being part of all the preparation because it makes them feel grown up. In the evening we pray at our local Hindu temple and after that we go home and give each other gifts, explaining to the kids that Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) has been to visit while we were out. Sometimes my husband makes the sound of bells as if it’s the sound of bells on the Goddess’ ankles, as she goes away from the house. The whole family gets to wear new, traditional clothes.

“After the gifts, we go out into the garden and light fireworks, which Sunny is not too sure about! Then we go out into the streets for a bit just to see the lovely streetlights and all the fireworks and crackers, and watch everyone going mad and celebrating. It’s a time of real joy and optimism.”

Find out more

• Visit the BBC website to find out more about Diwali
  
  
• Find out how Ayesha and her children celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr