Diwali: The Festival of Lights

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is among the most treasured and widely celebrated festivals in India and around the globe. More than just a festival, it represents joy, unity and the deepening of relationships. At its essence, Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, wisdom over ignorance and good over evil. While rooted in rich religious traditions, it also carries profound social and cultural meaning. This makes it a celebration that resonates with people across communities.

The Five Days of Diwali

Diwali is celebrated over five days, each with distinct rituals and meaning:

1. Dhanteras – The festival begins with Dhanteras, a day dedicated to wealth and health. Families clean their homes and purchase gold, silver or utensils as symbols of prosperity. Lamps are lit in the evening to drive away negative energies.
2. Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) – This day, also known as “Little Diwali,” commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura. Families prepare festive foods, light lamps and may enjoy small firework displays.
3. Lakshmi Puja (Main Diwali Day) – The third day is the most significant. After sunset, families perform Lakshmi Puja, seeking blessings of wealth, peace and well-being. Homes shine with diyas, or clay oil lamps, and families gather for festive meals and celebrations.
4. Govardhan Puja (Annakut) – The fourth day honors Lord Krishna’s lifting of the Govardhan Hill to protect villagers from storms. In temples and homes, large offerings of food are prepared to express gratitude for nature’s bounty.
5. Bhai Dooj – The festival concludes with Bhai Dooj, a celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters perform rituals for their brothers’ well-being. Brothers in turn offer gifts, symbolizing love and protection.

Diwali Celebrations in Northern India

In northern India, Diwali is celebrated as the festival of lights, marking Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. Homes are thoroughly cleaned and decorated with diyas, candles and colorful rangoli (a decorative floor art) to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. People perform a series of rituals known as Lakshmi Puja in the evening, seeking prosperity and happiness. Fireworks light up the night sky and families gather to exchange gifts and sweets — even among neighbors and friends.

Popular festive foods include gujia (fried dumplings filled with condensed milk), laddoos (sweet flour balls), barfi (a fudge-like sweet), gulab jamun (soft, fried balls soaked in a sugar syrup), kachori (fried pastry with spicy filling), puri (puffed wheat bread), mathri (crisp, flaky, spiced crackers), chiwda (savory mix of roasted rice, nuts and spices) and a variety of dried fruits. The celebration symbolizes the victory of good over evil and light over darkness, spreading joy and unity among families and communities.

Diwali Celebrations in Eastern India

In West Bengal, Odisha and Assam, Diwali coincides with Kali Puja, when devotees worship Goddess Kali with lamps, flowers and offerings. Homes are decorated with diyas, rangoli and flowers, and families wear new clothes and light fireworks. Popular festive foods include sandesh (a type of sweet cottage cheese), rasgulla (spongy, syrup-soaked spheres), naru (round, coconut sweets) and khichadi (savory comfort dish of rice, lentils and mild spices). Khichadi holds special significance as a type of offering, known as bhog, to Goddess Kali. This symbolizes simplicity, purity and nourishment. In Odisha, lamps are floated on rivers to honor ancestors. Alaxmi Puja is performed to ward off misfortune and invite prosperity into homes.

Diwali Celebrations in Western India

In western India, particularly in Maharashtra and Gujarat, Diwali spans several days of festivities. It begins with Vasu Baras, a day devoted to worshipping cows and calves. It’s followed by Dhanteras, known as Dhanatrayodashi in western India. Naraka Chaturdashi is marked by abhyanga-snan, a traditional oil bath at dawn, in addition to the lighting of lamps. Homes come alive with vibrant rangoli, rows of glowing diya, known as diva in western India, and colorful paper lanterns known as akash kandils.

Families gather to prepare and share festive delicacies — such as karanji (sweet, fried pastries), shankarpali (crispy, mildly-sweet bites), chirote (flaky, sweet, layered pastry), besan laddoo (sweet balls made with roasted gram flour), shev (gram-flour paste fried in thin, crunchy strands), chakli (rice or gram batter fried into spicy, crispy, spirals) and chivda (a savory flattened rice mix with peanuts and spices). Together, these treats form the beloved faral, a festive platter enjoyed in the company of loved ones. Exchanging faral and gifts embodies the spirit of togetherness that lies at the heart of Diwali.

Deepawali Celebrations in Southern India

The Southern States in India celebrate the festival of lights as Deepawali, which means a string of lights. The festival falls on the 14th day before the new moon between the months of October and November. In the Southern States, Deepawali is referred to as Naraka Chaturdasi to celebrate the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Preparations begin days in advance with cleaning the home, buying new clothes and jewelry, decorating entrances with colorful rangolis and preparing festive sweets and savories. On Deepawali morning, families take an early sesame oil bath, wear new clothes and offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity. Firecrackers, family gatherings and elaborate feasts mark the day.

Traditional delicacies include halwa (sweet pudding), laddu (sweetened flour balls), murukku (deep-fried rice and lentil batter), adhirasam (deep-fried rice pancake) and the special Deepawali Lehiyam — a medicinal sweet made with jaggery, ghee and spices to aid digestion after rich meals. Newlyweds celebrate their first “Thalai Deepawali” with their families, reinforcing the spirit of joy, renewal and togetherness that defines this festival of lights in South India.

Diwali Celebrations in the United States

In the United States, Diwali is celebrated widely and brings a sense of community and togetherness. For those who celebrate, Diwali creates joy, strengthens family bonds and helps preserve traditions for future generations.

Communities organize large Diwali fairs and invite local legislators to be part of the celebrations. It’s a joyful time when non-Indian community members can gather, learn about Diwali traditions and join the festivities.

Suvosree Chatterjee , MSc, RDN, CDECS; Ashwini Wagle, Ed.D, MS, RD, FAND; Minakshi Raj, MPH, PhD; and Sudha Raj PhD, RDN, FAND contributed to this article.