Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated by over a billion people

The name Diwali comes from the Sanskrit dipavali, meaning “row of lights” - and the lamps are the point. Across the five-day festival, celebrants line homes and streets with diyas, small earthenware oil lamps, on the new-moon night.

Diwali is a major festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, and is observed by some Buddhists too - each faith attaching its own story, from Rama’s return to Ayodhya to Mahavira’s liberation. What they share is the symbolism: the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil.

Its reach is vast. National Geographic notes Diwali is observed by more than a billion people across India and its global diaspora, marked by prayer, feasts, fireworks, family gatherings, and charitable giving. The festival runs roughly five days.