Diwali Shines Bright with Light, Color, and Tradition

by Lily Adhikari age, 13

Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of Hindu’s biggest holidays. It is celebrated in many parts of the world by many different faiths.

Diwali originated from the Sanskrit word Deepavali which means “row of lights.” Deepavali comes from the two words deepa (clay lamps) and avali (row), which can be translated as “row of lights.” The date on which Diwali falls is between late October and early November. The date changes every year, this is because Diwali is based on the Lunar calendar. In the year 2025, it is on October 20th. People usually celebrate the holiday for five days. Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.

Diwali is celebrated all over the world. This means that there are a lot of different people who celebrate when the holiday comes around. The majority of people who celebrate Diwali are Hindus, but there are other religious groups that do so as well. The holiday is also observed by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.

The holiday has traditions, but every family celebrates it differently. The main ways Diwali is celebrated are through buying gifts, setting off fireworks, and praying to different gods. The goddess Lakshmi is commonly worshiped in houses during Diwali. She is the goddess of wealth and success. People also gamble or buy gold during the holidays, as they believe that whoever does either of these activities on the days of Diwali will be prosperous for the rest of the year. There is also the practice of rangoli, a form of sand art that usually looks like flowers and geometrical shapes.

This holiday is celebrated in different ways, it can vary from religion to religion, country to country, home to home, and person to person. It is important to recognize and respect holidays and traditions from any faith or country.

[Sources: PBS, National Geographic, NPR]