Derived from the Sanskrit word&nbsp;<i>dipavali,</i> which means “row of lights,” Diwali is known for the brightly burning clay lamps that people put outside their homes during the holiday.&nbsp;
Derived from the Sanskrit word dipavali, which means “row of lights,” Diwali is known for the brightly burning clay lamps that people put outside their homes during the holiday. 
Photograph by Tapas1978, Dreamstime

Diwali: Festival of Lights

Learn about India's biggest holiday of the year.

Diwali, or Dipawali, is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.

Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that's also enjoyed by non-Hindu communities. For instance, in Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C.; in Sikhism, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru, was freed from imprisonment. Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali as well.

People create patterns called&nbsp;rangoli&nbsp;on the floor using colored powders or sand.
People create patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powders or sand.
Photograph by Calee Allen, Dream

Hindus interpret the Diwali story based upon where they live. But there's one common theme no matter where people celebrate: the victory of good over evil.

Learn more about the holiday at National Geographic.

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