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Diwali (Deepavali) is the five-day Hindu “Festival of Lights”, centred on the Amavasya (new moon) of the Hindu month of Kartika and marked by rows of oil lamps (diyas), Lakshmi Puja, sweets and fireworks. It is observed by an estimated one billion Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Newar Buddhists worldwide.
When is Diwali?
The main day of Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) falls on the Amavasya (new moon night) of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartika, which corresponds to October–November on the Gregorian calendar.
The five days of Diwali are:
- Dhanteras (Day 1, Trayodashi of Krishna Paksha Kartika) — the day of wealth; auspicious for buying gold, silver, and kitchenware.
- Naraka Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali (Day 2) — commemorates Krishna’s defeat of the demon Narakasura.
- Lakshmi Puja / Diwali (Day 3, Amavasya) — the main day; worship of Lakshmi, Ganesha, and Kubera.
- Govardhan Puja / Annakut (Day 4) — commemorates Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan.
- Bhai Dooj (Day 5) — celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.
Upcoming Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) dates
Dates per Drik Panchang, based on Amavasya in the Hindu month of Kartika (Indian Standard Time).
| Year | Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Day of week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 8, 2026 | Sunday |
| 2027 | October 29, 2027 | Friday |
| 2028 | October 17, 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | November 5, 2029 | Monday |
| 2030 | October 26, 2030 | Saturday |
History & origin
Diwali predates written records and draws on multiple Hindu narratives observed regionally:
- Return of Rama (North India): from the Ramayana — Prince Rama returns to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and the defeat of the ten-headed demon king Ravana of Lanka. Citizens light rows of oil lamps (deepavali, “row of lights”) to welcome him.
- Krishna defeats Narakasura (South India): from the Bhagavata Purana — Krishna and his consort Satyabhama slay the demon Narakasura on the day before Amavasya, freeing 16,000 captive princesses.
- Lakshmi’s emergence: the goddess Lakshmi is said to have emerged from the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan) on this day, and chosen Vishnu as her consort.
- Mahavira’s moksha (Jainism): the 24th Tirthankara Mahavira attained nirvana on the night of 15 October 527 BCE, the Amavasya of Kartika.
- Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikhism): the 6th Sikh Guru, Hargobind, was released from imprisonment by Emperor Jahangir at Gwalior Fort in 1619 — along with 52 other princes — on the same date.
Observance & traditions
- Diyas & lights — small earthen oil lamps lit in rows along thresholds, balconies, and windows. Modern celebrations add electric fairy lights.
- Rangoli — decorative floor patterns at the entrance of homes, made from coloured rice powder, sand, or flower petals, to welcome Lakshmi.
- Lakshmi Puja — the central ritual on the main Diwali evening, performed at home shrines after sunset during the muhurat (auspicious time) calculated by panchang.
- Sweets — mithai such as ladoo, barfi, jalebi, and kaju katli are prepared and exchanged with family and neighbours.
- New clothes & gifts — new clothing is worn on the main day; cash bonuses (the Diwali bonus) are traditional in many Indian workplaces.
- Fireworks — a 20th-century addition; now restricted in several Indian cities due to air pollution.
Sources & references
- Drik Panchang — Diwali — authoritative Hindu calendar and muhurat reference, used widely in India.
- Encyclopædia Britannica — Diwali — historical and regional background.
- Ramayana (Valmiki) — primary source for the Rama narrative.
- Bhagavata Purana, Canto 10 — primary source for the Krishna–Narakasura narrative.
FAQs
Diwali falls on the Amavasya (new moon night) of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartika. The Hindu calendar combines lunar months with periodic adjustments to stay aligned with the solar year, but each month still starts and ends with the moon. The new moon of Kartika lands anywhere from mid-October to mid-November on the Gregorian calendar, depending on where in the year the lunar months happen to fall.
The full Diwali festival spans five days: Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali), Lakshmi Puja (the main Diwali day on Amavasya), Govardhan Puja / Annakut, and Bhai Dooj. The middle day — Lakshmi Puja — is what most people mean by “Diwali”. In Tamil Nadu, Deepavali is observed mainly on the Naraka Chaturdashi day, so the Gregorian date can differ by one day from the North Indian observance.
Northern Diwali commemorates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana — oil lamps are lit to guide him home. South Indian Deepavali commemorates Lord Krishna’s defeat of the demon Narakasura on Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before the new moon, so the South Indian celebration is one day earlier and centred on dawn rituals rather than the night.
No. Jains observe Diwali as the anniversary of Mahavira’s attainment of moksha in 527 BCE. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day, marking Guru Hargobind’s release from imprisonment by Emperor Jahangir in 1619. Newar Buddhists in Nepal also celebrate during this period. It is a public holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guyana.
Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune, is said to roam the earth on Diwali night, blessing the homes she visits. Devotees clean and light their homes thoroughly so that she will enter. Lakshmi Puja — the worship of the goddess alongside Ganesha (remover of obstacles) and Kubera (treasurer of the gods) — is the central ritual on the main Diwali evening.
Fireworks became widespread only in the 20th century with industrial pyrotechnic production; the original tradition is oil lamps (diyas). Several Indian cities — including Delhi — now restrict or ban fireworks during Diwali due to severe air pollution; many families have returned to lamp-only celebrations or use “green” lower-emission fireworks.