People typically do not drink alcohol, eat non‑vegetarian food, gamble for money, or create loud/unsafe disturbances (like reckless firecrackers) during Diwali, as these are widely seen as inauspicious or unsafe for the festival.

What people usually avoid

  • Alcohol and intoxication : Many cultural and religious guides advise avoiding any intoxicants on Diwali, as they are believed to disturb the peace and purity associated with welcoming Goddess Lakshmi.
  • Non‑vegetarian food : A lot of families follow a purely vegetarian diet on Diwali day, considering it more sattvic and auspicious for puja and blessings.
  • Gambling with real money : Light, symbolic card games are common, but playing for high stakes or serious money is often discouraged and seen as inviting negative energy.
  • Anger, shouting, and conflicts : Traditional advice explicitly mentions not getting angry, shouting, or creating quarrels, as a calm, clean, peaceful home is thought to attract prosperity.
  • Sleeping at pooja time : Some beliefs say not to sleep late in the morning or during key puja hours, as it is considered disrespectful to the deities and bad for fortune.
  • Neglecting cleanliness : Keeping the house dirty or cluttered on Diwali is seen as very inauspicious, since the festival symbolizes inviting light and prosperity into a clean space.
  • Unsafe or noisy firecrackers : Bursting crackers in cramped spaces, near wires, trees, curtains, or late at night is discouraged due to safety, pollution, and disturbance to others.

What people typically do on Diwali

To contrast, here are things normally encouraged:

  • Cleaning and decorating the home with diyas, rangoli, and lights.
  • Performing Lakshmi and Ganesh puja with the proper items, mantras, and a peaceful atmosphere.
  • Wearing clean, bright clothes and exchanging sweets and thoughtful (often non‑leather, non‑sharp) gifts.
  • Spending time with family, sharing meals, and celebrating responsibly with eco‑friendly lights or crackers.

So, if you see options like “drinking alcohol,” “eating non‑veg,” “loudly fighting,” or “serious money gambling,” those are the kinds of things people would not typically do during Diwali compared with prayer, decorating, and sharing sweets.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.