Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrated by Hindu and Sikh communities, involves plenty of excitement which includes offering pooja, preparing sweetmeats, exchanging gifts, decorating homes, donning new clothes, drawing rangoli and setting off fireworks.

The celebration has religious significance as a way of spreading joy on Hindu god Rama’s victorious return to his people after defeating Ravana and completing his 14 years of exile.

It is also believed that the Hindu goddess of wealth Lakshmi was incarnated on the new moon day.

At the Shri Swami Narayan Mandir on Thursday, it was much more than just fireworks and noise.

Boys could be seen playing around the temple with firecrackers and sparklers. They would sneak around every unsuspecting soul to light a cracker and then enjoy watching them scream and jump with fright.

The little girls in pretty dresses, meanwhile, lit little oil lamps lining the rangoli outside their main doors. And the firework fountains, commonly called anaar, were the favourites with little boys as well as girls.

As some of the parents stood around with their kids to supervise them, others left them on their own so that they could greet each other.

Read more: Festival of lights Diwali celebrated with joy in city