What is Diwali and what does it celebrate?
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
Questions about Diwali
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When is Diwali celebrated and how long does it last?
Diwali falls during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin and Kartika, between around mid-October and mid-November, coinciding with a new moon. The celebrations generally last five or six days, with the third day as the height of the festival.
What are the five days of Diwali?
The five days are Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi or Chhoti Diwali, Lakshmi Pujan on the main day, Annakut or Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Duj. Each day carries its own rituals, from cleaning homes and installing diyas to celebrating the sister-brother bond.
How do Jains and Sikhs celebrate Diwali?
Jains observe Mahavira Nirvana Divas, marking the final nirvana of Mahavira in 527 BCE, when eighteen kings proclaimed that lamps be lit in his remembrance. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, marking the release of Guru Hargobind from the Gwalior Fort prison by the Mughal emperor Jahangir.
Why is Diwali associated with the goddess Lakshmi?
Many Hindus associate Diwali with Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity and wife of Vishnu. According to Pintchman, some sources say the festival begins on the day Lakshmi was born from the churning of the cosmic ocean, and the night of Diwali is when she chose and wed Vishnu.
Where is Diwali an official holiday?
The main day of Diwali is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. In the United States it is an official holiday in California, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania as of October 2025.
What are the health and environmental hazards of Diwali?
Firecrackers used on Diwali raise dust and pollutant levels, releasing chemicals like copper, zinc, lead, and cadmium and oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. During the 2023 celebration, New Delhi briefly recorded the world's worst air pollution with an air quality index of 680 on one night.