Multifaith Calendar
Diwali (Hinduism / Sikhism / Jainism / Buddhism)
Date and Time
Monday, November 9, 2026
Description
What is Diwali?
- Diwali is a Festival of Lights celebrated by a number of different religious and spiritual traditions based out of India.
- Celebrants will often light rows of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
- Depending upon where it is celebrated, Diwali can take place over 3-5 days.
- In southern India, Diwali celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna’s destruction of the demon Naraka who is said to have imprisoned women and tormented his subjects. In northern India, Diwali honors the triumphant return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana, from a 14-year exile in the forest. (PBS)
Recurring
This event also occurs on 11/1/24, 10/21/25 and 10/30/27