Pune, a city of 4 million, is small by Indian standards. We observed Diwali celebrations here and wandered the crowded streets as people prepared for the festival by buying food, gifts, and socializing. Diwali is a Hindu festival. Various ceremonies are conducted at the temple and people get together with family and friends to eat and give gifts - much like we do at Christmas. There aren’t really specific costumes for Diwali other than people dress up, and the women will wear their best sari often one trimmed with gold thread and lots of gold jewelry of course.
Fireworks and fire crackers are also used to celebrate Diwali. This can be very disconcerting since they are ignited in the crowded streets. In addition to the deafening sound, they are downright dangerous! By lighting fire crackers they express their joy: the louder the bang, the more joy they feel. Of course, people are also killed, usually when dilapidated “stores” catch on fire and someone is burned to death.