How to celebrate Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, properly

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Diwali 2025 falls on Monday 20 October. This day marks the central Lakshmi Puja – the spiritual highlight of the five-day festival.

When thousands of lights shine in India and everywhere else Indian communities live in autumn, this marks the start of Diwali – the festival of lights. Millions of people celebrate this deeply spiritual event each year, with family, rituals, music, colours, food – and a message that extends far beyond religious boundaries: the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, hope over fear.

Origin and meaning

The name ‘Diwali’ comes from the Sanskrit word Dipavali, which means ‘row of lights’. And the festival is indeed characterised by small clay lamps (diyas) filled with oil or ghee. On the darkest night of the month of Kartik (according to the Hindu calendar), they bring light to homes, temples, and streets. The festival is closely linked to the traditional lunisolar calendar. Therefore, Diwali falls on a different date each year, usually between October and November – in 2025, it will be on 20 October.

The five days of Diwali

1) Dhanteras: Cleansing and buying gold – for health and prosperity

2) Choti Diwali / Naraka Chaturdashi: Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura

3) Lakshmi Puja (Haupttag): Worship of the goddess Lakshmi, festival of lights

4) Govardhan Puja / Annakut: Thanksgiving to nature, New Year’s celebration in some regions

5) Bhai Dooj: Celebration of sibling love between brother and sister

Many stories with the same message

Diwali brings together many stories from Hindu mythology, with differences of emphasis depending on the region:

In northern India, the festival commemorates the return of Lord Rama after 14 years of exile, when his hometown of Ayodhya welcomed him with lights.
In southern and western India, the focus is on Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura.
Throughout India, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and beauty, is worshipped – especially on the main day of the festival.
In Eastern India, Diwali is also dedicated to the goddess Kali, a powerful embodiment of divine energy.

These stories express one common idea: light brings knowledge, protection, well-being and spiritual clarity.

Diwali in other religions

Jainism: For Jains, Diwali is the day on which Mahavira, the last Tirthankara, attained ultimate enlightenment (Moksha).

Sikhism: Coinciding with Diwali, Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, the release of Guru Hargobind and 52 fellow prisoners from prison.

Buddhism: Some Buddhist communities – especially in Nepal – celebrate Tihar, which is very similar to Diwali in its symbolism.

Celebrating Diwali with all the senses

Diwali is a festival of sensory experience:

Light: Diyas and fairy lights transform houses and cities into glowing spaces.
Colour: Entrances are decorated with rangoli, colourful patterns made from rice powder, flowers, or sand – a sign of hospitality and beauty.
Scent and sound: Incense, flowers, music and mantras fill the air.
Taste: Diwali is also a culinary festival. Traditional sweets such as ladoo, barfi, gulab jamun and kaju katli are particularly popular – they are given as gifts, shared, and enjoyed.

Focus on togetherness

Diwali is first and foremost a family celebration. Relatives come together, children look forward to new clothes, gifts and decorating together. The last day, Bhai Dooj, is particularly moving, celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters with blessing rituals, feasts, and gifts. Diwali is now celebrated far beyond India’s borders – in London, New York, Toronto and Singapore. Lights shine in the streets, temples open their doors, and schools and cultural centres invite people to join in the festivities.