Diwali is the festival of lights, which comes from the Sanskrit “Deepavali,” meaning “row of lights.” Observed by over one billion people each year, the festival is considered one of India’s and the Hindu diaspora’s most widely celebrated holidays.
The festival of lights is commemorated not only in many Hindu traditions, but also by Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhist communities. Observances of Diwali include lighting lamps to signify the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.
Religious Diversity and Diwali
In her article The Many Stories of Diwali Share a Common Theme of Triumph of Justice, religion scholar Natasha Mikles explores the diversity of Diwali’s stories, which vary based on locality and cultural or religious tradition.
These include the Hindu tale of Rama — an incarnation of the god Vishnu — and his triumph over demon Ravana, the Jain celebration of the enlightenment of the 24th spiritual teacher, Mahavira, and the Sikh observance of the day Guru Hargobind and 52 other men were released from prison.
“Perhaps these diverse origin stories of Diwali point to a shared argument that Indian culture is making about the world: that good — whether as one of the many avatars of Lord Vishnu, an enlightened Jain prince, or an imprisoned guru — will necessarily triumph over the evils of demons, injustice and ignorance,” she writes.
Read more about multifaith celebrations of Diwali in From Hindus for Human Rights, Reflections on a Multi-Faith Deepavali.
Diwali Traditions & 2026 Dates
Just as the cultural and religious stories surrounding Diwali are diverse, so are the ways the festival of lights is celebrated or commemorated.
Some Hindus celebrate Diwali as a five-day festival, beginning with Dhanteras — this year on Friday, Nov. 6 — a day for cleaning and decorating homes.
Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday, Nov. 8, and considered the third and main day in many Diwali celebrations, when earth lamps, or diyas are lit and temples visited.
In some traditions, the festival ends on day five, on Tuesday, Nov. 11, called Bhai Dooj, Bhai Tika, or Bhai Bij, which is a day to honor the sacred bond between brothers and sisters.
Some Diwali celebrations include lighting fireworks, eating sweets, getting together with family, dressing up in nice clothing, and worshipping while other traditions avoid loud displays and focus more on meditation and fasting.
Interfaith Resources & Stories
IA Emerging Leader Tahil Sharma, reflects on Diwali’s message of hope and justice and recounts the experience of attending a 2022 White House Diwali celebration.
“For years, my small apartment became a gathering space for Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians as we observed Deepavali,” writes former IA fellow, Raja G. Bhattar.
The Power of Light is a shared theme across religious traditions in Hindus for Human Rights’ 2025 interfaith Diwali message.
Learn more about religious holidays and observances in November and December.
Rachel Crowe
Rachel Crowe, Staff Writer for IA Today, tells compelling stories about interfaith cooperation across diverse communities and supports our narrative programming. She is a graduate of Gettysburg College where she earned a BA in English with a Writing Concentration and a German Studies minor.
