How do you prepare for Diwali? I have got a lot of safai done pre Dussehra so one less thing to stress about. I will make a couple of dishes on Diwali. But other goodies, I have started sourcing out to a home cook including mithai, the quantities of which have reduced over the years. The frenzy over Diwali is much lower in the South, which works well for me. Less enthu for socializing as well. I do a Lakshmi pooja diligently and dress up in a sari and meet friends.