Festival Etymology
Diwali (Deepavali) — What the Name Means
For dates, rituals and how it's celebrated, see our Diwali guide. Here, we focus only on the Sanskrit behind the name.
See other festival name origins, or explore the Panchanga system that determines when festivals like this one fall each year. Want the full guide — dates, the story, rangoli and sweets? See Diwali, or Diwali 2026 for this year's exact dates.