Diwali

Diwali is a five-day festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists. It takes place in the fall, usually in October or November. The exact date changes each year because Diwali follows the lunar calendar, which tracks the cycles of the moon. More than a billion people around the world celebrate it, making Diwali one of the biggest holidays on Earth.

The main idea of Diwali is the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Families fill their homes with small oil lamps called diyas. A diya is a tiny clay cup with a cotton wick floating in oil. People line up rows of diyas along windowsills, doorways, balconies, and garden paths. At night, whole neighborhoods glow.

Different groups celebrate Diwali for different reasons. Many Hindus celebrate the return of Prince Rama to his kingdom after 14 years away. According to the ancient story called the Ramayana, Rama defeated a demon king named Ravana and came home on a moonless night. The people of his kingdom lit lamps so he could find his way. Other Hindus connect Diwali to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune. They open their windows and doors so she can visit. Sikhs celebrate the day their sixth guru was freed from prison in 1619. Jains remember the moment their teacher Mahavira reached enlightenment.

The five days each have their own customs. Families clean their homes from top to bottom, because Lakshmi is said to visit only places that are tidy. They draw colorful patterns on the floor near the entrance using powders, rice, or flower petals. These patterns are called rangoli. People wear new clothes, give each other sweets, and share big meals with relatives. Children often get small gifts of money from older family members.

Fireworks light up the sky on the main night of the festival. The booms and bright colors are meant to chase away bad luck and welcome the new year for many communities. In recent years, some Indian cities have asked people to use fewer fireworks because of the smoke they leave in the air.

Diwali is now a public holiday in India, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Fiji, and Trinidad and Tobago. In the United States, the White House began holding a Diwali celebration in 2003. In 2022, New York City made Diwali an official school holiday so students would not have to choose between class and family.