Deepawali is the festival of lights

Deepawali, better known as Diwali, is the festival of lights and one of the biggest festivals in India. Over five days in October or November, families clean and decorate their homes, light rows of clay lamps, draw rangoli patterns, pray to Goddess Lakshmi, share sweets and set off fireworks. The festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It is mainly a Hindu festival, but Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists also mark it in their own ways. This post explains the meaning of each day, the stories behind the festival and how to celebrate it safely.

Our old post on this topic was brief and included a couple of claims we could not confirm. We have rewritten it in plain English and checked the details against standard references.

What Does Deepawali Mean?

The word comes from the Sanskrit Dipavali. Dipa means a lamp or light, and avali means a row or line. So Deepawali means a row of lights. This is exactly what people do: they place small oil lamps called diyas along doorways, windows, balconies and rooftops so that homes glow in the dark.

When Is Diwali Celebrated?

Diwali follows the Hindu lunar calendar, so its date changes from year to year. It falls around the new moon, or amavasya, of the months of Ashvin or Kartika, usually between mid October and mid November. The main day, the night of Lakshmi Puja, is the darkest night of that lunar month.

In 2026, the central government holiday list puts Diwali on Sunday, 8 November, with Dhanteras two days earlier. Diwali usually comes about twenty days after Dussehra. Read about that festival in our post on Dussehra.

The Five Days of Deepawali

Day 1: Dhanteras

The festival begins with Dhanteras. Dhan means wealth, and teras means the thirteenth day of the lunar fortnight. Families clean their homes, draw rangoli and shop for new utensils, household goods and gold or silver. In the evening they pray to Lakshmi and Ganesha. Some people, especially those linked with Ayurveda, also honour Dhanvantari, the god of healing, on this day.

Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi

The second day is called Naraka Chaturdashi or Chhoti Diwali, meaning little Diwali. In many regions it recalls the story of Lord Krishna defeating the demon king Narakasura and freeing thousands of captives. In Tamil Nadu, Goa and Karnataka this day is commonly celebrated as Deepavali itself. In Maharashtra and much of the south, elders give family members an oil massage and everyone takes a ritual bath before sunrise. In Rajasthan and Gujarat the day is also called Kali Chaudas.

Day 3: Lakshmi Puja

The third day is the heart of the festival. In the evening, families gather for Lakshmi Puja, praying to the goddess of wealth and good fortune. Diyas and lights are lit across the home, sweets are offered and shared, and fireworks fill the sky. In Gujarat and some northern communities, Diwali also marks the turn of the year. Indian stock exchanges stay closed for the day but hold a short Muhurat trading session in the evening to mark the new year.

Day 4: Govardhan Puja and Padwa

The day after Lakshmi Puja is marked in different ways. In north India many people perform Govardhan Puja, which recalls Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill to protect villagers from a storm. Many temples prepare Annakut, meaning a mountain of food, offering heaps of dishes to Krishna. In Maharashtra and some other regions the day is called Balipratipada or Padwa, linked to the story of King Bali, and couples exchange gifts. In Gujarat it is New Year’s Day, when families buy small good luck items such as salt and visit temples.

Day 5: Bhai Dooj

The final day is Bhai Dooj, which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters put a tilak on their brothers’ foreheads and pray for their long life, and brothers give gifts in return. Some craft communities mark this day as Vishvakarma Puja instead, cleaning and honouring their tools and workplaces.

The Stories Behind the Festival

Diwali has no single story. Different regions and traditions link it to different events, all with the same message of light winning over darkness:

• Rama’s return: In north India, Diwali marks the day Rama, Sita and Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and the defeat of Ravana. The people of Ayodhya are said to have lit lamps to welcome them.
• Krishna and Narakasura: In parts of the south and east, the festival recalls Krishna’s victory over Narakasura.
• Lakshmi: Across India, Diwali is the night to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, into a clean and well lit home.
• Kali: In West Bengal and eastern India, many Hindus worship Goddess Kali on Diwali night. Our post on Kali Puja explains this tradition.

How Other Faiths Mark the Day

Jains celebrate Diwali as the day of Mahavira’s nirvana, his final liberation. According to Jain tradition, lamps were first lit in his memory after his passing in 527 BCE.

Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas at the same time. It recalls the release of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, from the Mughal prison at Gwalior Fort and his arrival at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The Golden Temple is lit up beautifully on this night.

The Newar Buddhists of Nepal also worship Lakshmi at Diwali. In Nepal the festival is called Tihar and lasts five days. On some of these days people honour animals such as crows, dogs and cows, and the last day, Bhai Tika, celebrates brothers and sisters.

Customs and Traditions

• Cleaning and decorating: Homes and shops are cleaned, repaired and decorated in the days before the festival.
• Lamps and lights: Clay diyas, candles, lanterns and electric lights are placed inside and outside the home.
• Rangoli: Bright patterns are made on floors and doorsteps using coloured powder, rice flour, flower petals or coloured sand.
• New clothes: People dress in their best or newest clothes.
• Sweets and gifts: Families share boxes of mithai, dry fruits and gifts with relatives, friends and neighbours.
• Fireworks: Many families light firecrackers, though more people now choose quieter and cleaner ways to celebrate.

A Festival With a Long History

Diwali is very old. The seventh century emperor Harsha mentioned a festival of lamps in his Sanskrit play Nagananda. In the eleventh century, the Persian scholar Al Biruni wrote that Hindus celebrated Deepawali on the new moon of the month of Kartika. The Mughal emperor Akbar is known to have joined in the festivities at his court.

Diwali Around the World

Indian communities abroad have taken Diwali across the world. The main day is an official holiday in many countries. These include Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Large public celebrations are also held in cities in Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia.

After Diwali: Chhath Puja

The festive season does not end with Bhai Dooj. In Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal, many families go on to celebrate Chhath, which falls six days after Diwali and honours the Sun God. Read more in our post on Chhath Puja.

Safety Tips for Deepawali

• Keep lit diyas and candles away from curtains, clothes and paper decorations.
• Light firecrackers only in open spaces, never indoors or near vehicles.
• Keep a bucket of water or sand nearby, and never let young children handle fireworks alone.
• Wear cotton clothes rather than loose synthetic ones while lighting lamps or crackers.
• Many cities limit firecrackers to control air and noise pollution, so check local rules before you buy.
• Keep pets indoors and calm, as loud bursts can frighten them.

For more advice, see our post with tips for a happy and safe Diwali.

On Dhanteras evening, some families light a single lamp facing south for Yama, the god of death, a custom known as Yama Deepam.

Rangoli designs differ by region, from flowing patterns in rice flour in the south to bright powder designs in the west and north.

Greeting cards, messages and calls to family members far away are also part of the festival for many people.

What We Changed From the Old Post

We rewrote the post in plain English and expanded it into a full guide to the festival.

We removed claims we could not verify, such as jewellers offering discounts on Dhanteras and Diwali being the only festival most of the country joins. We corrected the timing: the main night is the darkest night of the lunar month, not of the year.

We added the meaning of the name, the 2026 date, each of the five days, the main stories, how Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists mark the festival, its history and safety tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Deepawali?

It means a row of lights, from the Sanskrit words dipa, a lamp, and avali, a row.

When is Diwali in 2026?

The central government holiday list puts Diwali on Sunday, 8 November 2026.

What are the five days of Diwali?

Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja or Padwa, and Bhai Dooj.

Which goddess is worshipped on Diwali?

Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune, along with Lord Ganesha.