Diwali

E18568

Diwali is a major Hindu festival of lights celebrating the victory of good over evil and light over darkness, marked by prayers, feasts, and fireworks.

All labels observed (20)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (68)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Hindu festival
festival of lights
religious festival
alsoKnownAs Deepavali
linked to: Diwali

Dipavali
linked to: Diwali
approxGregorianTime November
October
associatedDeity Ganesha
Kali
Krishna
Kubera
Lakshmi
linked to: Devi

Rama
associatedWithStory Krishna’s victory over Narakasura
Lakshmi emerging from the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan)
defeat of Ravana by Rama
return of Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile
calendar Hindu lunisolar calendar
celebratedIn Bangladesh
Fiji
Guyana
linked to: British Guiana

India
Malaysia
Mauritius
Nepal
Pakistan
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
global Indian diaspora communities
culturalAspect special festive foods
traditional music and dance
duration 5 days in many regions
economicImpact major shopping season in India
environmentalConcern air pollution from firecrackers
noise pollution from firecrackers
etymology from Sanskrit dīpāvalī meaning ‘row of lights’
jainSignificance commemorates Mahavira’s attainment of nirvana
keyDay Amavasya (new moon) of Kartik
mainTheme spiritual renewal
triumph of knowledge over ignorance
triumph of light over darkness
victory of good over evil
majorRitual Ganesha Puja
linked to: Ganesh Chaturthi

Lakshmi Puja
cleaning and decorating homes
exchanging gifts
fireworks and firecrackers
lighting candles
lighting electric lights
lighting oil lamps (diyas)
rangoli decoration
sharing sweets
modernTrend promotion of eco-friendly celebrations
observedBy Hindus
linked to: Hinduism

Jains
linked to: Jainism

Sikhs
linked to: Sikh people

some Buddhists
occursInMonth Kartik
religion Hinduism
sikhSignificance coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas
socialAspect community celebrations
family gatherings
symbolism banishing darkness and evil
new beginnings
welcoming prosperity and good fortune
typeOfHoliday public holiday in several countries

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (107)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Hinduism hasFestival Diwali
Northern India hasMajorFestival Diwali
subject linked to: northern India
Lyon knownFor Festival of Lights
linked to: Diwali
Diwali alsoKnownAs Deepavali
linked to: Diwali
Diwali alsoKnownAs Dipavali
linked to: Diwali
Kashi hasFestival Dev Deepawali
linked to: Diwali
Ayodhya hasFestival Diwali (Deepotsav celebrations)
linked to: Diwali
Eastern India hasImportantFestival Diwali
subject linked to: eastern India
Kali Puja coincidesWith Diwali
Kali Puja coincidesWith Deepavali
linked to: Diwali
Bikaner majorFestival Diwali
Tamil people traditionalFestival Deepavali
linked to: Diwali
Yam Dwitiya partOfFestivalCycle Diwali festival period
linked to: Diwali
Indo-Mauritians festival Divali
linked to: Diwali
Gujarati people festival Diwali
Bihar hasFestival Diwali
Doaba hasFestival Diwali
Kashi Vishwanath Temple importantFestival Dev Deepawali
linked to: Diwali
Golden Temple, Amritsar festival Diwali (Bandi Chhor Divas)
linked to: Diwali
Kartik isAssociatedWith Diwali
Kartik isAssociatedWith Deepavali
linked to: Diwali
Kartik hasFestival Diwali
Kartik containsEvent Diwali Amavasya
linked to: Diwali
Bandi Chhor Divas oftenCoincidesWith Diwali
Rama associatedFestival Diwali
Puran Poli servedOn Diwali
Purvanchal hasFestival Diwali
Dwarka annualFestival Diwali
Dogra Brahmin celebrates Diwali
Maha Lakshmi Temple, Jhansi mainFestivals Diwali
subject linked to: Maha Lakshmi Temple
Dakshina Kali festival Diwali (in Bengal context)
linked to: Diwali
Khandeshi people festival Diwali
Ahir community festival Diwali
Ram Mandir, Ayodhya prominentFestival Diwali
subject linked to: Ram Mandir
Tamil culture hasFestival Deepavali (Tamil tradition)
linked to: Diwali
Govardhan Puja followsFestival Diwali (main day / Lakshmi Puja)
linked to: Diwali