Cookie Policy
This page explains the cookies and similar technologies used on Diwali.info, why they're used and how you can control them. Use it alongside our privacy policy. Last updated 30 April 2026.
What cookies are
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. They are widely used to make sites work, remember choices and provide information to site operators about how the site is used. Similar technologies — pixels, local storage and so on — can do the same job and are covered by this policy together.
Categories of cookies on this site
1. Strictly necessary
These are minimal cookies needed for basic operation of the site. Diwali.info is a static content site and doesn't use sign-in or shopping-cart cookies, so this category is small.
2. Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand which pages are useful and where readers come from. The cookies set by Google Analytics include identifiers that distinguish unique visitors and track session activity. The data is processed in aggregate; we don't combine it with personally identifying information.
To opt out of Google Analytics across all sites, install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
3. Advertising
Pages on Diwali.info display advertising served by Google AdSense and approved third-party advertising vendors. These services may set cookies that allow them to:
- Recognise your browser as it visits other sites in their network.
- Limit the number of times you see the same ad.
- Measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.
- Show ads based on your interests where you have not opted out of personalised advertising.
The standard AdSense disclosure applies: third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this and other websites. You can manage personalised advertising preferences in Google Ads Settings.
Specific cookies you may encounter
The exact list of cookies set on your device depends on which pages you visit, whether ads have loaded, and decisions made by Google's services on the day. The table below covers the most common ones.
| Cookie name | Provider | Purpose | Typical lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique visitors over time. | Up to 2 years |
| _ga_<ID> | Google Analytics 4 | Persists session state for GA4. | Up to 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique visitors within a 24-hour window. | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Throttles request rate to limit data collection on heavy sites. | 1 minute |
| NID | Stores user preferences for Google services and is used in personalised advertising. | Up to 6 months | |
| IDE | Google DoubleClick | Used to register and report user interactions with ads. | Up to 13 months |
| __Secure-* / __Host-* | Various security and session cookies set by Google's domains. | Varies | |
| test_cookie | Google DoubleClick | Checks whether the user's browser supports cookies. | 15 minutes |
This list is not exhaustive — Google may add, rename or retire cookies; their authoritative list is in Google's cookies policy. Diwali.info itself does not set first-party cookies for tracking; the site is otherwise stateless.
How to control cookies
You have several options for controlling cookies:
- Browser settings. Every modern browser lets you block, delete or restrict cookies. Open your browser's settings and search for "cookies" for the relevant controls. Blocking all cookies may break parts of some websites; Diwali.info itself remains readable without cookies, but analytics and advertising will behave differently.
- Google's controls. For Google's services (including AdSense and Analytics), use Google Ads Settings and the Google Analytics opt-out add-on linked above.
- Industry opt-outs. The Digital Advertising Alliance maintains a consumer-choice tool at aboutads.info/choices. In Europe, similar controls are available at youronlinechoices.eu.
- Do Not Track. Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" signal. Industry standards for handling this signal are not consistent, and Diwali.info's third-party services respond according to their own policies.
If you are in the EEA, UK or California
Where your local law requires consent for non-essential cookies, you have the right to grant or refuse that consent and to change your mind at any time. You can do so via your browser settings and via the opt-out tools above. Refusing analytics or advertising cookies will not stop you from reading the site.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as cookies and tracking practices change. The current version is always at this URL, with the date at the top reflecting the latest revision.
Contact
Questions about cookies on the site can go to contact@diwali.info. For broader privacy questions, see our privacy policy.