Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India, and particularly for Hindus. It is celebrated across faiths by more than a billion people in the world’s most populous nation and its global diaspora.

Over five days, people take part in festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts, and prayers.

The word Diwali comes from "Deepavali," meaning “a row of lights.” Celebrants light rows of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

The date of Diwali is based on the Hindu lunar calendar and typically falls in late October or early November. This year, the holiday is celebrated on Oct. 20.

While Diwali is a major Hindu festival, it is also observed by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. The stories behind the holiday vary across regions, but all share a central theme — the triumph of good over evil.

In southern India, Diwali celebrates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Naraka, who had imprisoned women and oppressed his people. In the north, it marks Lord Rama’s return from a 14-year exile with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana.

Despite regional variations, all Diwali celebrations feature lights, fireworks, feasting, new clothes, and prayer.

• In southern India, people begin the day with a warm oil bath symbolizing purification in the holy River Ganges.

• In the north, families worship Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity.

Gambling is also a popular Diwali tradition, rooted in the belief that those who gamble on Diwali night will enjoy good fortune throughout the year. On the festival’s first day, known as Dhanteras, many buy gold as a sign of luck and prosperity.

Colorful rangoli patterns, intricate geometric or floral designs drawn on floors, decorate homes, while friends and families exchange sweets and gifts.

Although several northern Indian states have restricted fireworks to curb air pollution, the Supreme Court recently allowed the sale of “green fireworks,” which are designed to emit fewer pollutants.

Jains observe Diwali as the day Lord Mahavira, the last of the great Jain teachers, attained nirvana, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

• Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, which coincides with Diwali, to mark the release of Guru Hargobind from imprisonment by Mughal emperor Jahangir.

• Buddhists regard the day as when Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism in the 3rd century B.C.

In 2025, California became the third US state to designate Diwali as an official state holiday, following Pennsylvania and Connecticut. The law, effective Jan. 1, allows public schools and community colleges to close for the festival, while state employees can take the day off.

The move follows similar decisions by New York City and several New Jersey school districts, which have also made Diwali an official school holiday.

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