Diwali
Hindu festival of lights symbolizing victory of good over evil.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Diwali, also known as Dipavali, is the Hindu festival of lights, celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. It symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance, and is observed over five or six days between mid-October and mid-November.
- field
- Religious festival
- known_for
- Festival of lights, victory of light over darkness
- observed_by
- Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Newar Buddhists
- duration
- Five or six days
- typical_month
- Ashvin and Kartika (mid-October to mid-November)
Lore & Background
Diwali is connected to various religious events and deities. One tradition links it to the return of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana. It is also widely associated with Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity, and Ganesha, god of wisdom. Other regional traditions connect the holiday to Vishnu, Krishna, Durga, Shiva, Kali, Hanuman, Kubera, Yama, Yami, Dhanvantari, or Vishvakarman.
The festival likely originated as a fusion of harvest festivals in ancient India and is mentioned in early Sanskrit texts such as the Padma Purana and Skanda Purana, composed between the 7th and 10th centuries. Emperor Harsha referred to it in the 7th-century play Nagananda, and Rajasekhara mentioned it in the 9th-century Kavyamimamsa. Travellers such as Al Biruni in the 11th century, Niccolò de' Conti in the 15th century, and Domingo Paes in the 16th century described the lighting of lamps and festive gatherings.
During the festival, celebrants illuminate homes, temples, and workspaces with diyas, candles, and lanterns. Hindus take a ritual oil bath at dawn each day. The festival includes fireworks, rangoli decorations, feasts, and the sharing of mithai. It is a time for family homecoming and community bonding, with parades, fairs, and music performances. Many send greeting cards, and ancestors are remembered.
Reader's Guide
Diwali is a major cultural and religious festival observed by millions across the world. Its significance lies in its universal themes of light overcoming darkness and good triumphing over evil, which resonate across multiple faiths including Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Newar Buddhism. The festival is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US states of Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and California.
The festival's historical roots are deep, with references in Sanskrit inscriptions from the 10th century onward, and descriptions by travelers from Persia, Venice, and Portugal. Islamic rulers of the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire had varied responses, with Akbar participating and Aurangzeb banning it. British-era scholars like Sir William Jones documented its observance in the 18th century.
Diwali's legacy endures as a time of renewal, generosity, and community. It brings together families and communities, especially in urban areas, through shared rituals, feasts, and celebrations. The festival also serves as a cultural touchstone for the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain diaspora, maintaining traditions across generations and continents.
Did You Know?
- Diwali is mentioned in the 7th-century Sanskrit play Nagananda by Emperor Harsha.
- The festival is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and three US states.
- Jains observe Diwali marking the final liberation of Mahavira.
- The 16th-century Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes described Diwali celebrations in the Vijayanagara Empire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Diwali?
Diwali, also called Dipavali, is a major religious festival of lights observed by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Newar Buddhists. It unfolds over five or six days during the lunar months of Ashvin and Kartika, which correspond roughly to mid-October through mid-November on the Gregorian calendar.
What role does Diwali play in the spiritual world?
The festival's core purpose is to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. It functions as a shared spiritual milestone that unites several major faith traditions rather than belonging to any single one.
How does Diwali's story end?
The multi-day observance typically closes with a final day of family gatherings, communal feasting, and the kindling of small clay oil lamps called diyas. This last night symbolizes the full realization of the festival's central theme: inner illumination conquering all surrounding darkness.
Why is Diwali considered so important?
It brings together multiple religious communities under one shared celebration of spiritual renewal and the victory of righteousness. Its emphasis on inner light makes it one of the most widely recognized and joyously observed festivals across the South and Southeast Asian cultural sphere.
When exactly is Diwali held each year?
The date shifts annually because it is anchored to the lunar calendar, specifically the new moon of the month of Kartika. On the Gregorian calendar this places the festival somewhere between mid-October and mid-November, with the principal night of lights falling on that new-moon day.
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