Diwali Countdown

How many days until Diwali?

The Diwali countdown above ticks every second to Lakshmi Puja — the main day of the festival of lights. Diwali's date varies each year because it's based on the Hindu lunar calendar, falling on the new moon (Amavasya) of the lunar month of Kartik.

When is Diwali?

Diwali (also spelled Deepavali) — the festival of lights — is a five-day Hindu festival whose central day, Lakshmi Puja, falls on the new moon of the lunar month of Kartik. In the Gregorian calendar this is somewhere between mid-October and mid-November.

Diwali dates through 2031

The five days of Diwali

Diwali isn't a single day — it's a five-day festival, with each day having its own significance and rituals:

1. Day 1 — Dhanteras: Celebration of wealth and prosperity. Buying gold, silver, or new utensils is traditional. Lamps (diyas) are lit to welcome Goddess Lakshmi into the home.
2. Day 2 — Naraka Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali: Commemorates Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. Some traditions celebrate this as the smaller "first" Diwali.
3. Day 3 — Lakshmi Puja (main day): The main day. Goddess Lakshmi (wealth and prosperity) and Lord Ganesha (wisdom and removal of obstacles) are worshipped. Homes are filled with diyas and decorated with rangoli; fireworks light the sky; families gather for feasts.
4. Day 4 — Govardhan Puja / Annakut: Honours Krishna's lifting of Mount Govardhan to shelter villagers from a storm. Mountains of food are offered to deities (annakut means "mountain of food").
5. Day 5 — Bhai Dooj: Celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters — similar in spirit to Raksha Bandhan but specifically marking the brother-sister relationship.

Why is Diwali called the festival of lights?

The lighting of diyas (small clay oil lamps) is the visual signature of Diwali. The lights symbolise:

• Triumph of light over darkness — both literal and metaphorical
• Knowledge over ignorance — wisdom dispelling delusion
• Good over evil — particularly Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after defeating the demon Ravana, which the residents celebrated by lighting rows of lamps
• Welcoming Lakshmi — Goddess Lakshmi visits well-lit, clean homes during Diwali night, bringing prosperity for the coming year

Modern celebrations include LED string lights, paper lanterns, fireworks, sparklers (phooljhari), and elaborate rangoli (intricate patterns made with coloured powder, rice, or flower petals) at home entrances.

Diwali across faiths

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists — but the meaning differs across traditions:

• Hindus — primarily commemorates Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and the defeat of the demon Ravana, as told in the Ramayana. Also honours Goddess Lakshmi.
• Sikhs — celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas ("Day of Liberation"), commemorating Guru Hargobind Ji's release from captivity by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619, along with 52 Hindu kings he negotiated freedom for.
• Jains — commemorate Lord Mahavira's attainment of moksha (final liberation/nirvana) on this day in 527 BCE.
• Some Buddhists — particularly Newar Buddhists in Nepal — celebrate Diwali as Tihar, honouring Emperor Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism.

Diwali around the world

Diwali is observed not just in India but across the global Indian diaspora:

• India — National gazetted holiday. The largest celebrations are in northern India and major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Jaipur.
• Nepal — celebrated as Tihar for five days. Includes Kukur Tihar (worship of dogs) on day 2.
• Sri Lanka — observed by the Tamil Hindu community.
• Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Fiji — all official public holidays due to large Indian-descended populations.
• Singapore, Malaysia — public holiday in both countries.
• UK — increasingly mainstream, with Trafalgar Square hosting a major free public Diwali event annually. Leicester's Diwali celebrations are among the largest outside India.
• United States — observed by 4+ million Indian-Americans. The White House has hosted Diwali receptions since 2003. New Jersey was the first US state to declare it an official public school holiday (2019).
• Canada — significant celebrations in Toronto, Vancouver, and Brampton (Ontario).
• Australia — Federation Square in Melbourne hosts a major annual Diwali festival.

Diwali traditions and food

• Sweets (mithai) — Diwali is centred on sharing sweets. Common varieties: laddoo, jalebi, barfi, rasgulla, gulab jamun, kaju katli, chakli, karanji.
• Savoury snacks — namkeen, chivda, shankarpali, papdi chaat.
• Family meals — full vegetarian feasts (Hindu Diwali traditionally features no meat).
• Gift-giving — boxes of sweets given to family, friends, and business associates. Companies often give Diwali bonuses to employees.
• New clothes — wearing new clothes on Diwali day is a strong tradition; sales spike in the weeks before.
• House cleaning — homes are thoroughly cleaned before Diwali to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.
• Fireworks — historically a major part of celebrations; many Indian cities now restrict them due to air pollution concerns.

Diwali shopping season

Diwali is the largest shopping festival in India — comparable in scale to Black Friday in the US or Singles' Day (11.11) in China:

• Gold and jewellery — Indian families traditionally buy gold on Dhanteras (day 1). India is the world's second-largest gold market.
• Electronics and appliances — major sales offered by Amazon India, Flipkart, and major retailers.
• Cars — Indian auto sales spike during Diwali; many families buy new cars or motorbikes.
• Clothing and home goods — new wardrobe and home items are traditional Diwali purchases.