What is Diwali and why is it celebrated?

Diwali is a festival of lights that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and the human ability to overcome.

Many regional traditions associate the holiday with Sita and Rama, Vishnu, Krishna, Durga, Shiva, Kali, Hanuman, Kubera, Yama, Yami, Dhanvantari, or Vishvakarman, as well as Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and Ganesha, the god of wisdom and the remover of obstacles.

It also commemorates Rama’s return to his kingdom in Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana after defeating the demon Ravana in Lanka and serving 14 years in exile.

Diwali has evolved into a national Indian holiday. Outside of India, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and others observe the holiday.

An estimated 200,000 New Yorkers celebrate Diwali, according to Queens Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, the first South Asian-American woman elected to a state office.

Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune, is associated with the festival. It is traditionally observed for five days.

According to the BBC, the word Diwali derives from the Sanskrit word deepavali, which means “rows of lighted lamps.”