Diwali in India is the festival of lights. Rows of diyas glow on doorsteps and balconies, fireworks light up the night sky, fresh rangoli welcomes guests at the entrance, marigold torans frame the door, and kitchens stay busy for days with sweets and crisp savoury snacks.
Also called Deepavali, the festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It falls on the new moon night of the Hindu month of Kartik, usually in October or November, and in most homes the celebrations stretch across five days.
In this guide we cover what Diwali means, the five days and their rituals, how homes are decorated, the festive food families make and share, and how Diwali in India is celebrated from North to South and East to West.
Explore more celebrations in our Festivals of India page.
Diwali in India: Festival at a Glance
Festival Snapshot
- Celebrated across India
- October or November
- 5 days of celebration
- 2026: Lakshmi Puja on 8 November
Key Rituals
- Lakshmi Puja
- Lighting diyas
- Drawing rangoli
- Govardhan Puja
- Bhai Dooj
Festive Food
- Kaju Katli
- Mysore Pak
- Sandesh
- Karanji
- Murukku
Decorations
- Clay diyas
- Rangoli and kolam
- Marigold torans
- Mango-leaf garlands
- Fairy lights and lanterns
What Diwali Means in India
The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit Deepavali, meaning a row of lamps. Each lamp lit at dusk stands for knowledge over ignorance and hope over darkness. Diwali is also a festival of new beginnings: families clean and paint their homes, buy new clothes and utensils, and businesses open fresh account books.
The Stories Behind Diwali
Diwali 2026: Key Dates
Diwali falls on Amavasya, the new moon night of Kartik, so the date moves between mid October and mid November. Dates can differ by a day between regional calendars, so check your local panchang for puja timings.
The Five Days of Diwali in India
Customs differ from state to state, but most families follow this five-day rhythm.
Dhanteras
An auspicious day to buy gold, silver or new utensils. Families clean the house and light the first lamps at the doorstep.
Naraka Chaturdashi
Also called Choti Diwali. An early oil bath before sunrise, new clothes and the first sweets of the season, especially in South and West India.
Lakshmi Puja
The main night. Families pray to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, light diyas in every room and window, and fireworks fill the sky.
Govardhan Puja
Temples and homes in North India offer Annakut, a mountain of food, to Lord Krishna. Maharashtra celebrates Padwa, Gujarat its New Year and Karnataka Bali Padyami.
Bhai Dooj
Sisters apply tilak and pray for their brothers, followed by a family meal. It is Bhau Beej in Maharashtra and Bhai Phonta in Bengal.
Lakshmi Puja: Lakshmi Mata
Goddess Lakshmi seated on a lotus, with a flower rangoli at her feet.
Lakshmi Puja: Home Altar
A puja corner framed with marigolds, brass lamps and a picture of Goddess Lakshmi.
Diwali Decorations in Indian Homes
Preparations start days before Diwali. First, families clean the house from top to bottom and wash the entrance. Then every corner gets a festive touch before the first lamp is lit and the first rocket climbs into the night sky.
Rangoli and Kolam
Rangoli patterns at the doorstep welcome guests and Goddess Lakshmi. People draw them with coloured powder, rice flour or petals, and call them kolam in Tamil Nadu, muggulu in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, alpana in Bengal and mandana in Rajasthan.
Diyas
Clay diyas filled with oil or ghee glow on windows, staircases, balconies and courtyards. Fairy lights now join them, but the soft flame of an oil lamp is still the heart of Diwali.
Torans and Marigolds
Marigold garlands and mango-leaf torans frame the main door, and fresh flowers decorate the puja corner. Many families believe marigolds bring good luck, and they fill the house with colour.
Lights and Fireworks
As night falls, fairy lights outline homes and gates, and fireworks light up the sky over cities and villages. Many families now choose green crackers or sparklers, which are gentler on the air and on pets.
Diwali Food in India: Sweets and Snacks
No Diwali is complete without food. In the days before the festival, kitchens fill with the smell of ghee, roasted gram flour and frying snacks. Families offer trays of sweets at the puja, then share them with neighbours and serve them to every guest. Find more ideas in our Festive & Seasonal Cuisine page.
Our ebook, “Diwali in 3 Hours”, brings together five easy treats you can make in one relaxed session: Baklava Cigars, Kaju Katli, Namak Pare, Poha Chivda and Rava Coconut Ladoo.
Diwali Sweets and Snacks Across India
North India
- Kaju Katli
- Motichoor Ladoo
- Besan Barfi
- Gulab Jamun
- Gujiya
- Namak Pare
- Mathri
- Aloo Bhujia
South India
- Mysore Pak
- Athirasam
- Rava Ladoo
- Badusha
- Murukku
- Ribbon Pakoda
- Thattai
- Mixture
East India
- Sandesh
- Rasgulla
- Narkel Naru
- Chhena Poda
- Khaja
- Nimki
- Chanachur
West India
- Karanji
- Anarse
- Shankarpali
- Mohanthal
- Ghughra
- Chakli
- Poha Chivda
- Shev
- Chorafali
Diwali in 3 Hours
Five easy homemade sweets and snacks, with storage tips and gift hamper ideas, sent straight to your inbox.
Get Your EbookHow Diwali Is Celebrated Across India
Diwali in India shares the same lamps and prayers everywhere, yet every region adds its own customs and dishes. Planning a festive trip? Start with our Plan Your India Trip page.
North India
Diwali here centres on Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya. Markets glow for weeks, families perform Lakshmi Puja on the new moon night, and Govardhan Puja and Annakut follow the next day.
Explore North IndiaSouth India
Deepavali begins before dawn on Naraka Chaturdashi with an oil bath, new clothes and crackers. Families make murukku, Mysore pak and athirasam, and Karnataka also celebrates Bali Padyami.
Explore South IndiaEast India
In West Bengal, Odisha and Assam, people celebrate the new moon night as Kali Puja. In Odisha, families light jute sticks, called kaunria kathi, to guide their ancestors.
Explore East IndiaWest India
Maharashtra celebrates with Vasubaras, faral, Padwa and Bhau Beej. In Gujarat, Diwali closes the financial year before Bestu Varas, the Gujarati New Year, while Rajasthan lights up its forts.
Explore West IndiaCelebrating Diwali Together
Beyond the lights and the food, Diwali is about coming together: children helping to draw the rangoli, elders sharing family recipes, and neighbours trading boxes of sweets across the doorstep.
Finally, from all of us at CookingTantra, may your home be filled with light, your kitchen with wonderful aromas and your days with happiness. Happy Diwali!
Read more stories of festivals, food and traditions in Culture Chronicles, and taste the regions of India in Flavors of India.
Diwali in India FAQs
Here are answers to some common questions about Diwali in India.
When is Diwali celebrated in India?
Diwali falls on Amavasya, the new moon night of the Hindu month of Kartik, in October or November. In 2026, Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday, 8 November, and the five days run from 6 to 10 November.
Why is Diwali called the festival of lights?
Diwali comes from the Sanskrit Deepavali, meaning a row of lamps. Families light clay diyas in every room, window and doorway to mark the victory of light over darkness and to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.
What are the five days of Diwali?
The five days are Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali), Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj. Customs and names vary from region to region.
Which sweets and snacks are made for Diwali?
Popular sweets include kaju katli, besan ladoo, coconut ladoo, Mysore pak and gulab jamun. Favourite snacks include chakli, murukku, poha chivda, namak pare, shakkar pare and sev.
How is Diwali celebrated in different parts of India?
North India remembers Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya, South India celebrates Naraka Chaturdashi with an early oil bath, East India observes Kali Puja, and in West India Gujarat celebrates its New Year while Maharashtra prepares faral.
