Learn about Diwali, the Festival of Lights

Diwali, widely regarded as India’s most important festival, holds special significance for Hindus. However, it is celebrated across faiths by over a billion people in India and the global diaspora. Spanning five days, the festival features festive gatherings, fireworks, feasts, and prayer.

The word “Diwali” comes from “Deepavali,” meaning “a row of lights.” During the festival, people light traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

Diwali’s date and timing Diwali is based on the Hindu lunar calendar and usually falls in late October or early November. This year, the festival is being observed on October 20.

The festival’s core theme

While Diwali is a major Hindu festival, it is also celebrated by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. Though origin stories vary by region and faith, the underlying theme remains the same — the victory of good over evil.

In southern India, Diwali commemorates Lord Krishna’s defeat of the demon Naraka, who had imprisoned women and tormented his subjects. In northern India, it celebrates the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana after 14 years in exile.

Celebration traditions: lights, fireworks, feasts

Diwali is marked by lights, fireworks, feasting, new clothes, and prayer. Regional variations include: Southern India: Early morning warm oil baths, symbolizing spiritual and physical purification akin to bathing in the holy River Ganges.

Northern India: Worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity.

Gambling on Diwali night is a traditional practice believed to bring prosperity throughout the year. Many also purchase gold on the first day of the festival, Dhanteras, as a symbol of good fortune. Firecrackers, exchanging sweets and gifts, and creating colorful rangoli designs are common practices. While some northern states had imposed partial or full bans on firecrackers to reduce air pollution, India’s Supreme Court recently approved the sale of “green fireworks,” considered less polluting.