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Diwali (Deepavali)
The Festival of Lights — the most celebrated Hindu holiday worldwide.
📅 October 20 – 5 days🌙 Lunar calendar
✦ Why It Matters
Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. It commemorates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his victory over the demon king Ravana, and the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura.
✦ How It Is Observed
Lighting diyas (oil lamps) and decorating homes, fireworks, Lakshmi Puja (worship of the goddess of prosperity), exchanging sweets and gifts, new clothes, gambling (symbolic), cleaning and decorating the home.
✦ Sacred Text
“Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.”
— Bhagavad Gita 10:11 ↗
Note on dates: This holiday follows a lunar or lunisolar calendar. The date shown is approximate for 2025–2026. Exact dates may vary by one or two days depending on moon sighting and regional tradition. Always confirm with your local community.