Diwali Festival Date

Diwali (Deepavali) — the Hindu Festival of Lights

Diwali, also spelled Deepavali (from Sanskrit dīpa = lamp + āvalī = row), is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival. It runs for five days around the new moon (amāvāsyā) of the lunar month of Kartika, which on the Gregorian calendar usually lands somewhere between mid-October and mid-November.

The festival marks Rama's victory over Ravana and his return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, as told in the Ramayana. At a symbolic level it stands for light overcoming darkness, knowledge overcoming ignorance and good overcoming evil. People decorate their homes with diyas (oil lamps), draw rangoli patterns at the entrance, set off fireworks and exchange sweets and gifts with family.

Hinduism does not have Diwali to itself. Jains celebrate the moksha (liberation) of Mahavira on the same day, Sikhs observe Bandi Chhor Divas (the release of Guru Hargobind), and Newar Buddhists recall the conversion of Emperor Ashoka. In many regions Diwali also opens the Hindu New Year and the new fiscal year for businesses, when Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) is worshipped.

Applications

Plan a trip to India during peak season, schedule business with Indian partners around the days the markets close, put together cultural events at schools and universities, coordinate with the Indian diaspora (over 32 million people worldwide), do academic work on comparative religion, or handle tourism logistics in Varanasi, Jaipur and Amritsar, where the celebrations run hottest.

FAQ

Why does the date change every year? The Hindu calendar is luni-solar, so the months follow lunar cycles but stay tied to the solar year. Diwali falls on the new moon of Kartika, which drifts 10–11 days each Gregorian year; a leap month every 2–3 years brings it back into line.

Is Diwali a public holiday? It is in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Malaysia, Singapore and Myanmar. Several countries with sizable Indian communities recognize it too, including the UK, Canada and parts of the US.

How many people celebrate Diwali? There are roughly 1.2 billion Hindus globally, and once you add the Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists who observe it, more than 1.3 billion people mark Diwali worldwide. That makes it one of the largest religious festivals on the planet.