The History and Spiritual Significance of Diwali
By Diwali Countdown Team · 24 Jun 2026 · 5 min read
Where Diwali comes from, the legends behind it, and what the festival of lights truly means.
Diwali, or Deepavali, is the most widely celebrated festival in India and among Indian communities around the world. The name comes from the Sanskrit deepavali, meaning a row of lights, and that single image captures the heart of the festival: light triumphing over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.
The Legends Behind Diwali
Diwali is not tied to a single story. Different regions remember different events, and that richness is part of its beauty.
- The return of Lord Rama: In North India, Diwali marks Rama's homecoming to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over the demon king Ravana. The people lit rows of diyas to welcome him.
- The worship of Goddess Lakshmi: Diwali night is believed to be when Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, visits clean and brightly lit homes.
- Lord Krishna and Narakasura: In the south, the festival recalls Krishna defeating the demon Narakasura, freeing thousands and restoring peace.
- Mahavira and Guru Hargobind: For Jains, Diwali marks Lord Mahavira attaining nirvana; for Sikhs, it coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, the release of Guru Hargobind from prison.
The Deeper Meaning
Beyond the legends, Diwali is an inner celebration. Lighting a diya is a symbol of awakening the light within: dispelling ego, anger, and ignorance, and choosing compassion and wisdom instead. Cleaning the home, settling old accounts, and forgiving past grievances all reflect the idea of starting fresh.
How Diwali Is Celebrated Today
Families clean and decorate their homes, draw colourful rangoli at the threshold, exchange sweets and gifts, perform Lakshmi Puja, and light diyas and lamps after sunset. To see exactly how long is left until the celebrations, you can follow our live Diwali countdown, and to plan the prayer timings, try the Diwali Muhurat Finder.
Diwali Across Different Faiths
Diwali is not celebrated by Hindus alone, and this shared observance is part of what makes it so unifying. For Sikhs, the day coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, marking the release of Guru Hargobind Ji from imprisonment and his return to Amritsar, where the Golden Temple was lit with countless lamps to welcome him. For Jains, Diwali commemorates Lord Mahavira attaining moksha, or final liberation, making it one of the most sacred days in their calendar. Some Buddhist communities, particularly the Newar Buddhists of Nepal, also observe the festival in their own way. People of different traditions light lamps side by side, each finding their own meaning in the same warm glow, which is a beautiful reflection of the festival's universal message.
How the Celebration Has Evolved
While the heart of Diwali remains unchanged, the way we celebrate has shifted with the times. In earlier generations, the festival centred almost entirely on clay diyas, homemade sweets, and gatherings of family and neighbours. Today, electric lights and lanterns share space with traditional lamps, store-bought and homemade treats sit together on the platter, and greetings travel instantly across the world by phone. There is also a heartening movement back toward the festival's roots, with many families choosing eco-friendly, low-noise, and more mindful celebrations that echo the simplicity of earlier times. Whatever form it takes, the essence endures: cleaning and renewing the home, honouring the divine, sharing with others, and gathering those we love. To see how it is observed globally, read our guide to Diwali around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Diwali called the festival of lights?
Because its central act is lighting rows of lamps, or diyas, to symbolise the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. The name Deepavali itself means a row of lights.
Is Diwali a religious or cultural festival?
It is both. Diwali holds deep religious meaning across Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and some Buddhist traditions, and it is also a vibrant cultural celebration of family, renewal, and community enjoyed by people of many backgrounds.
What is the spiritual message of Diwali?
Beyond the legends, Diwali represents the awakening of the inner light, dispelling ignorance and ego while choosing compassion, wisdom, and hope. The outer lamp is a reminder to kindle the light within.
How can I make Diwali more meaningful?
Focus on the spirit rather than the spectacle: clean and declutter your home, reflect on the year, reconnect with family, share with those in need, and celebrate mindfully. For the festival's day-by-day structure, see our guide to the five days of Diwali.
Carrying the Light Forward
Perhaps the most enduring power of Diwali is how it asks us to look both outward and inward. Outwardly, it is a festival of cleaning, decorating, gathering, and celebrating, a joyful reset that draws families and communities together. Inwardly, it is an invitation to examine our own lives: to let go of grudges as we let go of clutter, to forgive as we hope to be forgiven, and to begin the new chapter with a lighter, more generous heart. Each diya we light is a small, deliberate choice to add a little more brightness to the world. When we carry that intention beyond the festival, into how we treat others through the year, the light of Diwali never really goes out. That, more than any single ritual, is the festival's lasting gift, and it is a gift anyone, anywhere, can choose to give.
However you celebrate, the message of Diwali is timeless: no matter how deep the darkness, a single small light can begin to push it back.