Diwali, known as the festival of lights, is celebrated by more than 1 billion people globally, marking a significant occasion for Hindus and other faiths. This vibrant festival, which spans five days, includes festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts, and prayers. This year, Diwali falls on October 20, 2025, with festivities taking place across India and among the Indian diaspora worldwide.
The term Diwali derives from the word “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.” Participants illuminate their homes with traditional clay oil lamps, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. The festival’s timing is based on the Hindu lunar calendar, often occurring in late October or early November.
Shared Themes and Diverse Traditions
While Diwali is primarily a Hindu celebration, it is also embraced by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, each group observing unique traditions. The festival’s core theme revolves around the victory of good over evil, a narrative that varies by region.
In southern India, the festival commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Naraka, who is said to have oppressed his subjects. Conversely, northern Indian celebrations honor the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana from a 14-year exile.
Traditions differ across various regions, yet common elements include lights, fireworks, feasting, new clothes, and prayer. In southern India, people often start the day with a warm oil bath, symbolizing purification akin to bathing in the holy River Ganges. Northern celebrations typically involve worshiping the Goddess Lakshmi, who represents wealth and prosperity. Additionally, many people purchase gold on the first day of Diwali, known as Dhanteras, believing it brings good luck.
The practice of setting off firecrackers is widespread, accompanied by the exchange of sweets and gifts among friends and family. Rangoli, intricate patterns created on floors using colorful powders, is another vibrant aspect of the festivities.
Despite some northern states implementing partial or total bans on firecrackers due to air pollution concerns, the Supreme Court of India recently permitted the sale of “green fireworks” that are believed to be less harmful to the environment.
Diwali’s Significance Across Faiths
Beyond Hinduism, other faiths celebrate Diwali with their own unique narratives. Jains observe the festival as the day when Lord Mahavira, a significant figure in Jainism, attained nirvana, escaping the cycle of rebirth. Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas, a day that coincides with Diwali, celebrating the release of Guru Hargobind from imprisonment by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. For Buddhists, the day signifies when the Hindu Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism in the third century B.C.
Recently, the significance of Diwali has reached new heights in the United States. On October 7, 2025, California became the third state to declare Diwali an official holiday, joining Pennsylvania and Connecticut. This law, effective from January 1, 2026, allows public schools and community colleges to close for the holiday, granting state employees the option to take the day off. The law acknowledges the festival’s importance to not only Hindus but also Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.
As more regions recognize Diwali, the festival continues to foster a sense of community and celebration among diverse populations, uniting over a billion people in joy and light.
