About Diwali: What It Is, What It Means and Who Celebrates It

What is Diwali?

Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights. It is celebrated every autumn on Amavasya, the new-moon night of the Hindu month of Kartika, which falls in October or November. People light rows of clay lamps called diyas, decorate their homes with rangoli, worship Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity, wear new clothes, share sweets and set off fireworks. The festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Diwali 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November.

• Key facts
• What the name means
• Why lights
• Who celebrates it
• How the date is set
• Diwali worldwide
• Greetings
• Glossary
• FAQ

Diwali: key facts

What does Diwali mean?

The word Diwali is a shortened form of the Sanskrit Deepavali. It joins two words: deepa, meaning a lamp or light, and avali, meaning a row or series. Deepavali therefore means "a row of lamps", a name that describes the festival exactly, since lines of small clay lamps are lit along doorsteps, windows, walls and riverbanks. The form Deepavali is still used in South India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore, while Diwali is more common in North India and abroad.

Why is Diwali called the festival of lights?

Diwali falls on Amavasya, the darkest night of the lunar month, and its central act is lighting that darkness. Homes, temples, shops and streets are lit with diyas, candles, lanterns and strings of electric lights, and the sky with fireworks. The light carries several meanings at once:

• Good over evil: the lamps celebrate victories of good, above all Rama's return after defeating Ravana.
• Knowledge over ignorance: in Hindu thought, light stands for knowledge and the inner self, and the lamp is a reminder to dispel ignorance within.
• Welcoming prosperity: lit, clean homes are believed to draw Goddess Lakshmi, who brings wealth and good fortune.
• A fresh start: for many communities Diwali begins a new financial or calendar year, so the light marks a new beginning.

The story most often told about the first Diwali is that the people of Ayodhya lit rows of lamps to welcome Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana home after 14 years of exile. Read the full legends behind the festival in History of Diwali.

Who celebrates Diwali, and why?

Diwali is shared by four faiths, each with its own reason for lighting lamps on the same night.

• Hindus celebrate Rama's return to Ayodhya, Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura, and the worship of Goddess Lakshmi; in Bengal, Assam and Odisha the night is given to Goddess Kali.
• Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, the day Guru Hargobind was released from Gwalior Fort and returned to Amritsar, where the Golden Temple is lit up.
• Jains mark the day Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, attained nirvana at Pawapuri in Bihar, with lamps, prayers and fasting.
• Newar Buddhists in Nepal celebrate Swanti, their version of Tihar, including Mha Puja, the "worship of the self", which also marks the Nepal Sambat New Year.

In India, Diwali has also become a national festival enjoyed by people of every background. To see how its customs differ from state to state, read Diwali celebrations in India.

How is the date of Diwali set?

Diwali follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar, so its Gregorian date changes every year, usually falling between mid-October and mid-November. The main night is the Amavasya (new moon) of Kartika in the purnimanta calendar used in North India, the same night that the amanta calendar used in much of West and South India calls the Amavasya of Ashvin. Diwali usually comes about 20 days after Dussehra. Lakshmi Puja is held when the Amavasya tithi is present in the evening after sunset, which is why the festival sometimes shifts by a day from what a simple calendar would suggest.

In 2026 Diwali is on Sunday, 8 November, with Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November and Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11 November. See all five days and future Diwali dates in the Diwali 2026 guide.

Diwali around the world

The main day of Diwali is an official public holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia (except Sarawak), Singapore, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Pakistan. In the United States it is a state holiday in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and California, where Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law in October 2025.

In December 2025, Deepavali was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee, held at the Red Fort in New Delhi. It became India's 16th element on the list. For celebrations from Leicester to Singapore, see Diwali around the world.

How to wish someone a happy Diwali

To send a greeting, browse our Diwali greeting cards.

Diwali glossary: words to know

Amavasya

The new-moon night; the main night of Diwali falls on the Amavasya of Kartika.

Annakut

A mountain of food offered to Krishna on Govardhan Puja, the day after Diwali.

Bandi Chhor Divas

The Sikh festival on Diwali marking Guru Hargobind's release from Gwalior Fort.

Bhai Dooj

The last day of Diwali, when sisters pray for their brothers' long life.

Dhanteras

The first day of Diwali, considered lucky for buying gold, silver and utensils.

Diya

A small clay lamp filled with oil or ghee and a cotton wick.

Kartika

The Hindu lunar month in which Diwali falls, around October and November.

Lakshmi Puja

The evening worship of Goddess Lakshmi on the main night of Diwali.

Mithai

Indian sweets such as ladoos and barfis, shared and gifted at Diwali.

Rangoli

A colourful floor pattern made at the entrance with powder, rice flour or petals.

Tihar

The Nepali name for the five-day Diwali festival.

For what each ritual involves, see Diwali traditions and customs.

About Diwali: frequently asked questions