{"name":"Diwali","slug":"diwali","tagline":"A five-day festival of lights celebrated across India and its diaspora to mark the victory of light over darkness.","region":"South Asia","country":"India","country_code":"IN","city":"Ayodhya","category":"Festivals and celebrations","categories":["Festivals and celebrations","Spiritual and religious"],"meals":["Feasts and festival meals","Sweets given and shared","Fasting and breaking the fast"],"concepts":["Harvest and thanksgiving","New Year","Remembering the ancestors","Fasting and feasting"],"faiths":["Hindu","Jain","Sikh","Buddhist"],"spices":[],"observed":"Every year between the second half of October and the first half of November, over five or six days around the new moon","photo":{"url":"https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Crackers_at_Diwali_in_Guntur.jpg/500px-Crackers_at_Diwali_in_Guntur.jpg","author":"Kalli navya","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","source":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crackers_at_Diwali_in_Guntur.jpg"},"url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/t/diwali","dates":[{"year":2026,"start":"2026-11-08","end":"2026-11-12","text":"8 to 12 November 2026"},{"year":2027,"start":"2027-10-29","end":"2027-11-02","text":"29 October to 2 November 2027"},{"year":2028,"start":"2028-10-17","end":"2028-10-21","text":"17 to 21 October 2028"}],"date_answer":"Diwali 2026 runs from 8 to 12 November 2026. Other years: 2027, 29 October to 2 November 2027; 2028, 17 to 21 October 2028.","marked_on":[{"day":"Dhanteras","url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/days/dhanteras","next":"Friday, 6 November 2026"},{"day":"Bhai Dooj","url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/days/bhai-dooj","next":"Wednesday, 11 November 2026"}],"also_known_as":["Dipavali","Deepavali","Deepawali","Dipawali","Divali"],"community":"Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Newar Buddhists","took_shape":"Named in Sanskrit texts of the 7th to 10th centuries, with l","month":null,"weekday":null,"countries":[{"name":"India","code":"IN","url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/countries/india"},{"name":"Fiji","code":"FJ","url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/countries/fiji"},{"name":"Guyana","code":"GY","url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/countries/guyana"},{"name":"Mauritius","code":"MU","url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/countries/mauritius"},{"name":"Nepal","code":"NP","url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/countries/nepal"},{"name":"Singapore","code":"SG","url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/countries/singapore"},{"name":"Sri Lanka","code":"LK","url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/countries/sri-lanka"},{"name":"Suriname","code":"SR","url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/countries/suriname"}],"cities":[{"name":"Amritsar","url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/cities/amritsar"},{"name":"Ayodhya","url":"https://everyparampara.cpn.cleartrust.cc/cities/ayodhya"}],"summary":"Diwali is a major Hindu festival of lights observed in India and several other countries. It lasts for five or six days during October or November. Families illuminate their homes with lamps and share feasts to celebrate the spiritual triumph of good over evil.","lede":"Diwali is a five-day festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. It marks the spiritual victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. People illuminate their homes with oil lamps and share feasts. The festival falls in October or November according to the lunar calendar.","sections":[{"heading":"What it is","text":"Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is a festival of lights. It symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. The celebrations last for five or six days. They occur during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin and Kartika. This period usually falls between mid-October and mid-November. The festival is primarily Hindu but is also observed by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. Each community connects the holiday to different historical events and deities."},{"heading":"Origins and history","text":"The festival likely originated from ancient harvest celebrations in the Indian subcontinent. Early Sanskrit texts like the Padma Purana mention the event. Emperor Harsha referred to it in his seventh-century play Nagananda. Travelers such as Al Biruni and Niccolò de' Conti described the illuminations and feasts. Inscriptions from the tenth and thirteenth centuries also document the festivities. Mughal emperors like Akbar participated in the celebrations, while others banned them."},{"heading":"How it is kept","text":"Celebrants light diyas, candles, and lanterns in their homes and temples. Families perform rituals and offer prayers to various deities. Many take ritual oil baths at dawn each day. Homes are cleaned and decorated with rangoli designs made from colored powder. Fireworks are common. Communities organize fairs, parades, and performances. People exchange greeting cards and sweets with relatives and friends. Some also remember their ancestors during this time."},{"heading":"Religious significance","text":"Different groups observe Diwali for distinct reasons. Hindus often recall Rama's return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. Others worship Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, or Kali, the goddess of power. Jains mark the final liberation of Mahavira. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, honoring Guru Hargobind's release from prison. Newar Buddhists worship Lakshmi alongside other deities. All traditions emphasize righteousness and the importance of knowledge."},{"heading":"Food and drink","text":"Food plays a central role in the festival. Families prepare elaborate feasts to share with one another. Sweets, known as mithai, are exchanged as gifts. These confections are often included in greeting cards sent to distant relatives. The sharing of food strengthens bonds between family members and community associations. Urban areas often host large gatherings where people enjoy these festive meals together."}],"how_it_is_kept":"People light oil lamps and decorate their homes with rangoli patterns. They attend temple services and pray to deities like Lakshmi and Ganesha. Fireworks light up the night sky. Families gather for feasts and exchange sweets. Communities hold fairs and cultural performances. The festival serves as a time for homecoming and strengthening social ties.","when":"It occurs annually between mid-October and mid-November. The date follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar. It aligns with the new moon day in the month of Kartika. The main celebration happens on the darkest night of the lunar cycle.","where":"It is most prominent in India and Nepal. It is also widely celebrated in Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, and the United States. It is an official holiday in many of these nations.","meaning":"The festival represents the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. It reminds followers to uphold dharma, or righteousness, in daily life. The illumination of homes signifies the dispelling of inner darkness. Sharing food and gifts fosters community harmony and familial bonds.","foods":["mithai","Indian confectionery"],"spices_named":[],"faq":[{"a":"Diwali is a five-day festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. It symbolizes the spiritual victory of good over evil and light over darkness. The festival involves lighting lamps, praying, and sharing feasts.","q":"What is Diwali?"},{"a":"Diwali takes place between mid-October and mid-November. The dates follow the Hindu lunisolar calendar. The main day falls on the new moon day in the month of Kartika. It is an annual observance.","q":"When is Diwali celebrated?"},{"a":"It is primarily a Hindu festival. However, Jains, Sikhs, and Newar Buddhists also observe it. Each faith connects the holiday to different historical events and deities, yet all share the theme of light overcoming darkness.","q":"Who celebrates Diwali?"},{"a":"It is celebrated across India and Nepal. It is also an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Pakistan. Diaspora communities worldwide mark the occasion.","q":"Where is Diwali observed?"}],"see_also":[],"reading":[{"title":"Diwali 2020 Date in India: When is Diwali in 2020?","url":"https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/diwali-2020-date-in-india-when-is-diwali-in-2020-7013223/","note":"The Indian Express"},{"title":"The Ancient Origins of Diwali","url":"https://www.history.com/news/the-ancient-origins-of-indias-biggest-holiday","note":"History.com"}],"sources":[{"title":"Diwali on Wikipedia","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali"},{"title":"Encyclopaedia Britannica","url":"https://www.britannica.com/topic/Diwali-Hindu-festival"},{"title":"Diwali 2020 Date in India: When is Diwali in 2020?","url":"https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/diwali-2020-date-in-india-when-is-diwali-in-2020-7013223/"},{"title":"The Ancient Origins of Diwali","url":"https://www.history.com/news/the-ancient-origins-of-indias-biggest-holiday"},{"title":"More photos on Wikimedia Commons","url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Dipavali"},{"title":"Wikidata record","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10244"}],"photo_credit":{"url":"https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Crackers_at_Diwali_in_Guntur.jpg/500px-Crackers_at_Diwali_in_Guntur.jpg","author":"Kalli navya","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","source":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crackers_at_Diwali_in_Guntur.jpg"},"attribution":{"based_on":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/","photos":"Wikimedia Commons, credited on each page"},"last_refreshed":"2026-10-05T09:19:45.624Z","note":"EveryParampara pages take their facts from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata, rewritten in EveryParampara's own words with AI assistance; they may contain mistakes. Traditions are described as the people who keep them would describe them. Cite the url and keep the attribution.","published_by":"EveryParampara, a ClearTrust publication"}