Diwali image

Diwali

Celebrated
Oct./Nov.
Significance
Light Over Darkness
Tradition
Diya lighting
Diwali

Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, notably Newar Buddhists. The festival usually lasts five days and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". The festival is widely associated with Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity, with many other regional traditions connecting the holiday to Sita and Rama, Vishnu, Krishna, Yama, Yami, Durga, Kali, Hanuman, Ganesha, Kubera, Dhanvantari, or Vishvakarman. Furthermore, it is, in some regions, a celebration of the day Lord Rama returned to his kingdom Ayodhya with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana after defeating Ravana in Lanka and serving 14 years of exile. In the lead-up to Diwali, celebrants will prepare by cleaning, renovating, and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas and rangolis.

Also called Deepavali
Observed by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, some Buddhists (notably Newar Buddhists)
Type Religious, cultural, seasonal
Significance See below
Celebrations Diya lighting, puja, home decoration, shopping, fireworks, fasting, gifts, feast and sweets
Date Amavasya of Kartik month, (Date varies per Hindu calendar)
date Amavasya of Kartik month, (Date varies per Hindu calendar)
Frequency Annual
Related to Diwali (Jainism), Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti, Sohrai, Bandna

About Diwali

Celebrated by Hindus and other religious sects such as Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, it is a four or five-day long festival dedicated to celebrating the perseverance of light over darkness. Traditions include the large-scale lighting of temples as well as the lighting of oil lamps called diyas inside and outside individual households.

Achievement of Diwali

It is celebrated in Autumn across the Northern Hemisphere and in Spring across the Southern Hemisphere. The roots of the celebration date back to the first century AD. 

Top Facts You Did Not Know About Diwali

Diwali Category.. Diwali (Jainism) – Diwali's significance in Jainism.. Tihar – Nepali version of Diwali.. Swanti – Newar version of Diwali.. Bandi Chhor Divas – Sikh festival that coincides with Diwali.. Sohrai – Harvest festival that coincides with Diwali.. Bandna – Agrarian festival that coincides with Diwali.. Public holidays in Singapore.. Sikh festivals.. Jain festivals.. Public holidays in Malaysia.. Festivals in Nepal.. Public holidays in India.. Autumn festivals.. Harvest festivals in India.. Public holidays in Nepal.. Public holidays in Trinidad and Tobago.. Public holidays in Fiji.. Fireworks events in Asia.. Traditions involving fire.. Festivals in India.. Religious festivals in India.. November observances.. Hindu festivals.. October observances.

Latest information about Diwali updated on July 28 2021.