Diwali arrives Nov. 8 as North America hosts major light festivals
More than one billion people across multiple faiths prepare for the celebration, which centers on the triumph of light over darkness and features public events from New York to Vancouver.
By Jessica Abebe ·
The Festival of Lights begins on Nov. 8.
More than one billion people in India and its diaspora observe the holiday. It is the most important festival of the year for Hindus in the world’s most populous nation. The name comes from Deepavali, which means a row of lights. Participants place clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
The holiday follows the Hindu lunar calendar and typically falls in late October or early November. While it is a major religious event for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists also observe it. Origin stories differ by region but share a common theme of good overcoming evil. In southern India, the day celebrates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Naraka. In northern India, it marks the return of Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana after 14 years of exile.
Customs vary by location but generally include lights, fireworks, feasting, and new clothes. In the south, many people take an early morning bath with warm oil for spiritual purification. In the north, worship focuses on the goddess Lakshmi, who represents wealth and prosperity. Gambling is a popular tradition based on the belief that it brings yearly prosperity. Many people also buy gold on Dhanteras, the first day of the festival. Other activities include setting off firecrackers, exchanging sweets, and drawing rangoli patterns on the floor with colorful powders.
Other faiths have their own specific observances tied to the date. Jains mark the day Lord Mahavira attained nirvana. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas to commemorate the release of Guru Hargobind from Mughal imprisonment. Some Buddhists note the anniversary of Emperor Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism in the third century B.C.
North America hosts several large public events in 2026. Disney World in Florida featured more than 500 dancers in recent festivities. The 11th annual Diwali at Times Square in New York City includes international performers and a lighting countdown at the Ball Drop Tower. Other community gatherings are scheduled in Jersey City, on the Hudson River, in San Francisco, and in Vancouver, British Columbia. California became the third U.S. state to designate Diwali as an official state holiday last year.
