From fireworks and lights to dias in every room, Diwali really knows how to make things brighter. Diwali is the festival of lights, and it’s very widely celebrated among Hindus. Diwali originated in India more than 2,500 years ago. It is a very important part of culture as it symbolizes the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. During the celebration of Diwali, people pray to the goddess of wealth, good fortune, and prosperity, Lakshmi. The prayer is something called the Lakshmi Puja, which includes the offerings of flowers, incense, and sweets, to gain blessings to a new beginning. Every Hindu household does the Lakshmi puja on the third day of Diwali, the new moon day, just after sunset. The exact time varies depending on location. During the night of Diwali, multiple dias, a type of oil lamp, are lit and placed in every room welcoming the goddess Lakshmi into their home. Fireworks and lights on the outside of a home are also very common in an attempt to make their home as bright and welcoming as possible.
The story of Diwali is very interesting, and there are many different versions of it. Some of the most common versions include the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom after a 14-year long exile. He returned with his wife and brother after defeating the demon king, Ravana, who had 10 heads. Ravana had kidnapped Rama’s wife, Sita, so Rama rescued her. When Lord Rama came home with his wife and brother, the people of his kingdom lit countless dias to illuminate their path and to welcome them back home. The story of Diwali is linked to the Hindu mythology epic, Ramayana. The exact date of Diwali changes every year because it follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar, meaning it tracks both the sun and moon. The main celebration of Diwali happens on the darkest day of the lunar month, Kartik, also known as the new moon day. Although Diwali’s date varies, it always falls in the autumn months of October and November. This year, 2025, Diwali falls on October 20th.
Diwali can be celebrated in many different ways, some people invite their families to spend time with them, some people throw big parties with everyone they know, and some people just hold small prayers. During the celebration of Diwali, dias are lit and placed all over the house and outside on the doorstep. Cleaning, fresh sheets, and new clothes are also involved when celebrating. Sometimes small gifts are also given. Normally homes are decorated from the inside-out. Eesha Korlepara, a students at Heritage High School, explains how she likes to celebrate Diwali, “My family and I, we wear traditional clothing, and we go outside to light fireworks and sparklers.” She talks about how her favorite part of Diwali is being able to spend time with her family. Diwali is very important to a lot of people, Korlepara thinks that Diwali is important because “it celebrates the festival of lights.” Not many people know all too much about Diwali, and she explains how Diwali is an important cultural holiday and should not be made fun of. Overall, Diwali is a wonderful experience; it highlights lots of things about the Hindu culture and it should be taken seriously. So on October 20th, don’t forget to wish your Hindu friends a happy Diwali!
