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 |  | Diwali marks the new year in the Hindu faith and is one of the year's most colourful festivals as it is celebrated with lights.
Pupils at Leamington's Kingsley School drew us some special pictures to celebrate the festival.
To see them, click on the Images button below to launch our gallery. Plus, read on to find out more about this ancient festival and what events are taking place locally.
ÌýDiwali (Deepvali) literally means 'a row of lamps' in Sanskrit, the ancient Hindu language.
Diwali is celebrated between late October and mid-November and in 2003, the festival begins on 25 October.
| Ìý |  | A picture by Amanda Evans
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The legends behind Diwali are as varied as the methods of celebration.
However, there is a common theme running through them all - the triumph of good over evil.
The most popular tale tells of a demon named Narkasura who managed to acquire such awesome powers that he began to terrorize the "three worlds".
His defeat and death at the hands of Krishna is celebrated as Diwali, and the day preceding the new moon in the months of Ashwin-Kartik in the Hindu calendar is known as Naraka Chaturdasi.
ÌýLighting up
Because of Diwali's association with light, colourful illuminations are strung in the street during the festival period.
Coventry's Foleshill Road, Leamington's Old Town area and Rugby come ablaze with colour during Diwali.
| Ìý |  | Hindu god Ganesh, by Charlotte Matthews
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Rangoli
Colourful designs called Rangoli are created close to the entrance of a house to welcome guests for Diwali.
Traditionally they are painted or made from coloured sand or rice powder.
A symmetrical design or picture of gods, goddeses, dancers and Diwas are drawn and coloured rice powder/sand is then layered on top to form a picture.
Diwa Lights
Small lamps - known as Diwa lights - are placed outside the home or burn inside as, tradition dictates, every home lit up will receive a visit from Lakshmi - the goddess of good fortune.
The lamps are made of clay and have a cotton wool wick, using ghee or oil for fuel.
ÌýIn Rugby, the town’s lights will be switched on by mayor Laurie Wright at the clock tower on Thursday, 16 October. There will be festival celebrations at Rugby’s Indian Centre on 19 October.
SPA Coventry’s Diwali programme will take place on Saturday, 15 November at the Binley Banqueting Centre.
The special afternoon will feature cultural items between 2pm and 5pm, before a dinner and live music from 6pm. For ticket details, follow the link on the left.
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