What Is Diwali and Why Is It Celebrated? A Guide to the Festival of Lights

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of India’s most widely celebrated festivals. Often called the Festival of Lights, it is marked by glowing diyas, colorful rangoli, family gatherings, prayers, festive foods and the exchange of gifts.

But Diwali is more than a single celebration with a single story. Its traditions vary across India and among Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities, reflecting different histories, beliefs and regional customs.

At the heart of many of these traditions is a shared idea: the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair.

What does the word Diwali mean?

The name Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, meaning a “row of lights.” Deepa means lamp or light, while avali means a row or series.

The name reflects one of the festival’s most recognizable traditions: the lighting of small oil lamps, or diyas, in homes, temples and other spaces.

Why is Diwali celebrated?

There is no single story behind Diwali. Different regions and religious traditions associate the festival with different events.

In many parts of northern India, Diwali is associated with Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over Ravana, a story told in the Ramayana.

Diwali is also closely associated with Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity and good fortune. Many families perform Lakshmi Puja and light lamps to welcome prosperity and auspiciousness into their homes.

Other traditions connect Diwali with Lord Krishna, Lord Mahavira, Guru Hargobind and other important religious and historical events.

What are the five days of Diwali?

Diwali is often celebrated over five days, although customs and names vary by region.

The festivities commonly begin with Dhanteras, a day associated with prosperity and auspicious new beginnings. The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi, also known in many places as Choti Diwali.

The third day is the main Diwali celebration, when homes are illuminated with diyas and families may perform Lakshmi Puja.

Govardhan Puja is observed in many communities on the following day and is associated with the story of Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill.

The festival period concludes with Bhai Dooj, which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.

Why is Goddess Lakshmi worshipped during Diwali?

Goddess Lakshmi represents prosperity, abundance and good fortune and is central to Diwali celebrations in many Hindu households.

Homes are traditionally cleaned and decorated before the festival, and lamps are lit as families prepare to welcome Lakshmi. On the main night of Diwali, many families perform Lakshmi Puja, offering prayers for prosperity and well-being in the year ahead.

What does the Ramayana have to do with Diwali?

One of the best-known traditions associated with Diwali comes from the Ramayana.

After defeating Ravana and completing fourteen years of exile, Lord Rama returns to Ayodhya with Sita and Lakshmana. In the tradition commonly associated with Diwali in northern India, the people of Ayodhya welcome their return by illuminating the city with rows of lamps.

This connection between Rama's homecoming and the lighting of lamps is one reason the Ramayana remains closely associated with Diwali celebrations today.

Why do people light diyas on Diwali?

The lighting of diyas is one of the most recognizable traditions of Diwali.

These small oil lamps illuminate homes, entrances, courtyards and temples during the festival. Light has long carried symbolic meaning in Indian religious traditions, and during Diwali it is commonly associated with knowledge, hope, goodness and the overcoming of darkness.

Rows of glowing diyas also reflect the meaning of the festival's Sanskrit name, Deepavali, or “row of lights.”

Why do people make rangoli during Diwali?

During Diwali, many families decorate the entrances and floors of their homes with rangoli decorative patterns traditionally created using colored powders, rice, flowers or other materials.

Designs vary widely, from geometric and floral patterns to images of diyas and other auspicious symbols.

Rangoli adds color and beauty to the celebration and is traditionally placed near entrances as a welcoming and auspicious decoration.

Why does the date of Diwali change every year?

Diwali does not fall on the same date of the Gregorian calendar every year because its timing is determined according to the Hindu lunar calendar.

The main Diwali celebration generally falls on the new moon, or Amavasya, during the Hindu month of Kartika. As a result, the Gregorian date changes from year to year, usually falling in October or November.

Is Diwali only a Hindu festival?

Diwali is most widely associated with Hindu traditions, but the festival period also holds significance for Jains and Sikhs.

For Jains, Diwali is associated with Lord Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara, and his attainment of nirvana.

For many Sikhs, the period coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, commemorating the release of Guru Hargobind from imprisonment and his return to Amritsar.

These traditions have their own histories and meanings, illustrating the diverse ways in which this time of year is observed across Indian religious communities.

What is the deeper meaning of Diwali?

Beyond its lamps, decorations, sweets and celebrations, Diwali carries enduring ideas about renewal and hope.

The light of the diya is often understood as a symbol of knowledge overcoming ignorance, goodness overcoming adversity and hope emerging from darkness.

For many families, Diwali is also a time to clean and decorate the home, gather with family and friends, offer prayers, share food and gifts, and look toward the year ahead with optimism. The traditions may differ from one community to another, but the image of light shining in darkness remains one of Diwali's most powerful and enduring symbols.

Explore Diwali with India Club

Continue exploring the Festival of Lights through books, music and other special finds from India Club.

Browse our Diwali collection for books, music and family favorites connected specifically with the festival, or explore gifts and handicrafts, jewelry, and the Ramayana for more ways to celebrate and discover Indian traditions.

Diwali collection → Diwali Books, Music & Gifts
Gifts and handicrafts → Gifts & Handicrafts from India
Jewelry → Jewelry
Ramayana → The Ramayana