This Hindu festival of lights, celebrated in autumn, involves lighting oil lamps called diyas, bursting fireworks, and worshipping the goddess Lakshmi.
This largest Indian state by area, known for its Thar Desert and ornate havelis, was historically home to Rajput warrior clans.
This last great Mughal emperor expanded the empire to its largest territorial extent but his strict religious policies and long Deccan campaigns ultimately weakened it.
This Kashmiri multi-course feast, traditionally served on a large copper plate called a trami, features 36 courses of mainly meat dishes and is prepared by master chefs called wazas.
This 12th-century Kannada poet and social reformer founded the Anubhava Mantapa, a spiritual parliament, and composed hundreds of prose poems called vachanas challenging caste hierarchy.