- What is Diwali?
- When is Diwali celebrated?
- How do people celebrate Diwali, and what stories are associated with the festival?
- How is Diwali celebrated around the world and in Australia?
- What are some interesting facts about Diwali?
- How does SBS cover and celebrate Diwali?
What is Diwali? 'Row of Lights'
Described as the Festival of Lights, Diwali or Deepavali derives its name from the Sanskrit words deep (light) and avali (row), meaning "a row of lights".
At its core, Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness.
Millions of people around the world bring this theme to life by lighting oil lamps and candles and illuminating their homes with decorative lights.
Beyond the light, the festival is a time for gratitude, prayers, and hopes for health, happiness and prosperity in the year ahead.
For some communities, Diwali marks the beginning of a new year and a time of renewal.
Find out what Diwali is and how its five days of celebrations are observed.
When is Diwali celebrated? Darkness meets light on the moonless night
Guided by the Hindu lunisolar calendar, Diwali's timing shifts annually to arrive in October or November. It marks the transition from summer to winter in India.
It is typically celebrated over five days, with the main celebrations held on the third night, when there is no moon in the sky.
The moonless night, known as Kartik Amavasya in the Hindu calendar, symbolises spiritual darkness, ignorance and the unknown.
In response the illumination created by people symbolises the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil.
How do people celebrate Diwali, and what stories are associated with the festival? One festival of diverse traditions
For Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Nepali communities, Diwali is a major annual celebration.
Known as Diwali across much of India, Deepavali in southern India, Bandi Chhor Divas among Sikhs and Tihar in Nepal, the festival is rooted in distinct religious and historical traditions.
For Hindus, Diwali commemorates Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile, a tradition observed for thousands of years, while Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas, commemorating the release of the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib, from Gwalior Fort in 1619.
In Jainism, Diwali marks Lord Mahavira's final liberation and precedes the Jain New Year, while some Buddhists observe it as the anniversary of Emperor Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism.
In southern India, the festival also commemorates Lord Krishna's triumph over his adversary 'Narakasura'. For Nepali communities, 'Tihar', also known as 'Yamapanchak', is a vibrant celebration of light, hope and prosperity.
Despite their diverse traditions, communities worldwide are united by customs such as lighting oil lamps and candles, cleaning and decorating homes, wearing new clothes, and exchanging sweet treats and gifts with family and friends.
Learn more about Diwali, Deepavali, Bandi Chhor Diwas and Tihar here.
How is Diwali celebrated around the world and in Australia? Diwali makes the world glow
Across the world, including in Australia, festivities span community events, cultural festivals and official dinners hosted by political leaders.
Public figures regularly extend their wishes to communities across Australia and India, while landmarks such as Parliament House and the Sydney Opera House have lit up in the past to mark the occasion, cementing its place on the cultural calendar.
Within the community, people visit specially decorated temples, prepare sweets at home, host gatherings and share the occasion with family and friends.
Several workplaces across Australia, including SBS, also embrace the spirit of Diwali as South Asian employees step up to share their cultural traditions with colleagues.
Diwali has also gained official recognition internationally, such as in New York city where it is designated a public school holiday.
Meanwhile, community organisations in Australia continue to advocate for broader local recognition, including ongoing calls for it to become an official public holiday.
Find major Diwali events across Australia here
What are some interesting facts about Diwali? These facts might surprise you
Playing cards for cash on Diwali night is a popular tradition observed by many, as it is believed to bring financial prosperity in the year ahead.
Sharing milk-based sweets is often seen as a way of sweetening relationships and strengthening bonds.
Many people leave their doors and windows open as a traditional gesture to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, into their homes, while many create colourful patterns called 'rangoli' or 'kolam' at entrances.
In some business communities, account books are ceremonially opened and blessed during the Diwali festival to mark the beginning of the financial new year.
In Tamil communities, the tradition of an oil bath before sunrise is a Diwali ritual, symbolising the spiritual cleansing of the mind and body.
India sees one of its biggest jewellery sales during Diwali, with Dhanteras, the first day of the festival, considered an auspicious time to buy gold and silver.
Diwali also celebrates family bonds and relationships with animals and birds. The fifth day marks the bond between siblings in many communities, including Nepali communities, while Tamil communities celebrate Thalai Deepavali, a couple's first Diwali after marriage.
Although every region has its own favourite Diwali dishes, the festival is traditionally a time of feast rather than fasting.
'Deepavali' has been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
While Diwali has deep significance for many communities, people of all faiths and no faith also join in to celebrate it as a time of light, community and togetherness.
How does SBS cover and celebrate Diwali? The in-depth Diwali coverage
Each year, SBS's Diwali coverage draws on contributions from language teams including Nepali, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati and Bangla, showcasing the many ways the festival is celebrated.
The language teams attend Diwali events and community activations, bringing festival celebrations directly to people in metropolitan centres and regional towns across the country.
The teams create cultural explainers and exclusive content, and share untold stories that highlight how communities come together to celebrate.
SBS Food features recipes, food traditions and special cooking content that showcase the role of food in these celebrations.
SBS On Demand curates Diwali-themed entertainment, films and television content throughout the festive season.
An English-language Diwali hub brings together all the content and stories and serves as a central gateway to SBS's Diwali content.
SBS also marks Diwali by specially decorating the office and organising a staff event that creates an opportunity for colleagues to come together and celebrate the festival.
Find how SBS languages cover Diwali here
Find our podcasts here at SBS Hindi Podcast Collection. You can also tune in to SBS Hindi at 5 pm on SBS South Asian on digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via the SBS Audio app or stream from our website.
