Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important and widely celebrated Hindu festivals. The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, meaning “row of lights.” The festival is associated with various legends and stories throughout Hindu mythology and lasts for five days during the autumn season, typically in October or November.
The main theme of Diwali is the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Each of the five days marks a different tradition and significance:
- Day 1 – Dhanteras: Dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Hindus clean their homes, decorate with lights, and make purchases of precious metals like gold and silver.
- Day 2 – Choti Diwali: Also called Naraka Chaturdasi, this day commemorates the demon king Narakasura’s defeat by Lord Krishna’s wife Satyabhama.
- Day 3 – Diwali: The main Diwali day celebrates Lord Rama’s return to his kingdom Ayodhya after a 14-year exile. Homes are thoroughly cleaned and lit up with lamps to welcome the return of their king.
- Day 4 – Govardhan Puja: Krishna lifted the Govardhana hill to shelter the people from torrential rains sent by Indra. People build cow dung hillocks and offer food to Lord Krishna on this day.
- Day 5 – Bhai Dooj: Brothers visit sisters’ homes to strengthen sibling bonds, similar to Raksha Bandhan.
Preparations for Diwali begin weeks in advance. Homes are thoroughly cleaned and redecorated. People purchase new clothes, gifts, fireworks, and sweets to share. Earthen oil lamps called diyas are lit throughout homes, temples, shops and buildings to signify the victory of light over darkness.
The night before Diwali is treated as the main Diwali night. Families gather for Lakshmi Puja to seek the goddess’ blessings. Fireworks fill the sky as part of celebrations. Sweets are exchanged and festive meals are prepared across families and communities. The next day, brothers visit sisters and exchange gifts.
For many Hindus, Diwali honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity and the wife of Lord Vishnu. Lighting lamps during the new moon night of Diwali is believed to help Lakshmi dispel darkness and find her way into people’s homes.
The five-day festival highlights different legends across Hindu mythology:
- Return of Lord Rama: Diwali marks Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile. People lit up their kingdoms to celebrate his homecoming.
- Lord Krishna’s Defeat of Narakasura: Celebrates the victory of good over evil when Lord Krishna killed the demon king Narakasura.
- Govardhan Puja: Honours Lord Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan to protect the people from Indra’s floods.
- Bali’s Return: Diwali also marks the return of King Bali to earth from the netherworld to visit his subjects on this day.
Along with the variants across legends, Diwali is celebrated as:
- Festival of Lights: Lighting lamps and candles throughout the night dispels darkness and evil.
- New Year Celebration: Diwali heralds the Hindu New Year in many parts of India.
- Harvest Festival: Diwali also marks the post-harvest season and culmination of the growing season across India.
- Celebration of Wealth: Diwali signifies Lakshmi’s blessings and the start of the new financial year for many businesses.
- Commemoration of Life: The lights, colors and festivities commemorate the sacred bond between humans and the gods.
The traditions and rituals of Diwali signify the broader spiritual meanings and symbolism:
- Lighting oil lamps signifies purity, goodness, good luck and power.
- Shared meals and sweets promote community, harmony and prosperity.
- Prayers to Lakshmi invoke the blessings of prosperity for the new year.
- Fireworks and revelry celebrate the joy of life and goodness.
- Decorations and rangoli artwork reflect creativity and color.
- New clothes represent new beginnings and renewed commitment to good virtues.
Diwali is a national gazetted holiday across India and among Hindu communities worldwide. Major celebrations take place across the country and in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore, Suriname, Guyana and Fiji which have large Hindu immigrant populations. Increasingly, governments and organizations across the globe also host Diwali celebrations to mark the event.
Key rituals and activities associated with Diwali:
- Home decoration – Cleaning and decorating homes with rangoli art, colored powders, flowers, and lamps.
- Purchases and gifts – Buying new clothes, home appliances, sweets, dry fruits, gifts for family and friends.
- Lakshmi Puja – Lakshmi puja and prayers offered on the Diwali night to seek the goddess’ blessings.
- Lighting diyas – Rows of oil lamps lit to signify the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.
- Fireworks – Firecrackers to celebrate the victorious return of Lord Rama and deaths of Narakasura and Ravana.
- Bhai Dooj – Brothers visiting sisters on Bhai Dooj to celebrate sibling bonds.
- Rangoli – Colourful rangoli and sand art decorations made using coloured rice and powders.
- Festive meals – Lavish family meals and an exchange of sweets during Diwali.
Diwali is a time for families and communities to strengthen relationships and share prosperity. For Hindus it is a joyous celebration of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair.