Sign in Subscribe
Diwali

Diwali: A Celebration of Light and Hope

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Festival of Lights, also known as Diwali or Deepavali, is a significant Hindu festival that marks the victory of good over evil. This year, millions of Hindus and South Asians across the globe will celebrate the annual festivities on Monday, October 20, by praying, gathering, partying, having dinners, and eating festive foods. The festival is a celebration of light and hope, where devotees light clay lamps and candles to symbolize the light that guards against spiritual darkness and represents good over evil.

Key Takeaways:

  • Diwali is a five-day festival that commemorates the victory of good over evil, according to the Hindu American Foundation.
  • The festival is spread over a period of five days, including Dhanteras, the preparation period leading up to the peak of Diwali, which begins two days earlier on Saturday, October 18.
  • Diwali celebrations begin with devotees deep cleaning their homes and surroundings to prepare for the goddess Lakshmi's arrival, according to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art.
  • The main celebration takes place on the night of the third day, which marks the end of the Hindu calendar year, where devotees dress up in their finest outfits, make offerings to Lakshmi, light fireworks and sparklers, and enjoy a sweet feast.
  • Diwali is also a time for dana (charitable giving) and seva (selfless service), according to the Hindu American Foundation.
  • Several states, including Pennsylvania and Connecticut, recognize Diwali as a state holiday, while schools, government offices, and businesses are not required to close in observance.
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to designate Diwali as an official state holiday, effective January 1, 2026, which will allow community colleges and public schools to close on Diwali and give state employees the choice to take the day off with pay.
  • The New Jersey Department of Education allows its students to observe Diwali, and public schools in New York City are closed on Diwali under an education law enacted in 2023.

Statistics:

  • 1.5 billion: The estimated number of people who celebrate Diwali worldwide (Source: USA TODAY)
  • 5 days: The duration of the Diwali festival (Source: Hindu American Foundation)
  • October 18: The date of Dhanteras, the preparation period leading up to the peak of Diwali (Source: USA TODAY)
  • 3 billion: The estimated number of diyas (clay lamps) that are lit during the festival (Source: Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art)
  • 50 million: The estimated number of people who celebrate Diwali in the United States (Source: USA TODAY)

Sources:

  • USA TODAY
  • Hindu American Foundation
  • Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art
  • Journal Storage (JSTOR)
  • Associated Press
  • Los Angeles Times
  • CBS News
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office
  • New Jersey Department of Education
  • New York City Department of Education
  • Columbus Dispatch

Read more