White lights wound around the banisters in the McDonel Hall Kiva twinkled in the darkened room as rhythmic drumming and a lilting pipe filled the air.

Women dressed in colorful choli suits of blue, green and pink practiced a dance, their arms swaying in unison to a slight tinkling of bells.

About 55 people gathered Thursday night to celebrate and learn about the Diwali holiday in an event hosted by the Coalition of Indian Undergraduate Students, Asha for Education, the MSU India Club and McGlobe International Club.

Diwali, a festival of lights, is celebrated by people who practice Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. An over-riding theme of the celebration is the triumph of good over evil, or light over darkness.

In India, the five-day festival is a national holiday and is the most commonly observed celebration of Hinduism, said Roopak Kandasamy, vice president of the Coalition of Indian Undergraduate Students.

"The celebrations back home are on a grand scale with fireworks, sweets and prayer," said Kandasamy, a finance junior. "It's one of the grandest holidays for Hindus."

Diwali takes place on the 13th lunar day of Krishna Paksh, the dark fortnight. On the first day, Hindus offer sweets to the Lord of Death, Yama Raj, and pray to avoid an untimely death.

Hindus celebrate the triumph of Krishna over the demon Narakasura on the second day. Krishna is a deity worshiped by Hindus.

The return of Rama, another main deity worshiped, to his home town after the defeat of a demon king, is another story associated with Diwali.

Kandasamy said the use of fireworks during the holiday originates from a celebration of Rama's return.

Commercially, Diwali is a combination of New Year's and Christmas, Kandasamy said.

Presents are not exchanged other than an occasional token, but families and friends spend the holiday visiting, feasting and setting off fireworks.

Neelon Shah, a human biology sophomore, will go home this weekend to celebrate with her family.

"It's really important to be with the people you love," she said. The blessing of wealth and prosperity is focused on today, the third and main day of Diwali.

"We celebrate economic prosperity - this is when they start over again," Kandasamy said.

On the last two days of Diwali the triumph of good over evil is observed and the spirit of love is honored with the tradition of visiting between brothers and sisters.

In the Sikh religion, the holiday is observed in honor of the sixth guru who escaped from a Muslim Raja who tried to force his conversion and imprisoned him.

The lights of Diwali are said to originate from when the people of the guru's town lit the way to the golden temple in honor of his faith.

Jains celebrate the holiday to commemorate the Nirvana of Lord Mahavira who established dharma, a doctrine or moral and religious rights, as recognized by Jains and Hindus.

Unity between the different religions and states of India is an important aspect of Diwali, said Swati Shah, a communication graduate student and member of the India Club.

"There are religious stories, and each state has its own traditions. But, the main thing is the celebration of the light in all states," Shah said.