Diwali falls in October or November - the exact date changes each year because it follows the lunar calendar. The night before, families clean their homes and decorate the entrance with patterns made from coloured powder, called rangoli. Then, as darkness falls, the diyas are lit - row upon row of tiny flickering flames.
In Mauritius, Diwali is a time for sharing. Boxes of homemade sweets - like barfi, ladoo and gulab jamun - are given to friends and neighbours of all backgrounds. Children go from house to house collecting sweets, just like trick-or-treating but with a whole different flavour.
Because Mauritius has such a large Hindu community alongside all its other communities, Diwali is woven into the fabric of the whole island. Schools close for the day. Shops are decorated. People who are not Hindu join in the celebrations, admire the lights, and share the sweets. It is one of the most loved festivals on the island.