Diwali 2025 5-Day Rituals, Story, Date, Hidden Secrets

The main day of Diwali 2025 (Lakshmi Puja) will occur in 2025 on Tuesday, October 21 (per Drik Panchang and Indian Express). It will be a five-day event for the festival, starting with Dhanteras on October 18, and ending with Bhai Dooj on October 23.

Diwali (Deepavali) is not a federal holiday in the United States. However, states like Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Texas, and elsewhere have recognized it in schools, or as a local observance. In addition, California has recently passed a bill (AB 268) to officially make Diwali a public holiday (awaiting the governor’s signature).

For the reader’s reference:
Because Diwali is based on the Hindu lunar calendar, the dates shift each year on the Gregorian calendar. Since many diaspora communities in the U.S. produce local event calendars in September-October, be sure to check for announcements by the temple or your local community.

Small Stories & Significance Behind Diwali

Core Stories

Diwali is often described as “Festival of Lights” in symbolising the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

1. The Return of Lord Rama
   According to the Northern Indian/Ramayana tradition, after a fourteen-year exile and after defeating Ravana, Rama returned to Ayodhya with Sita and Lakshmana. The people of Ayodhya rejoiced with the lighting of DIYAs (oil lamps) to welcome them home
2. Goddess Lakshmi and Wealth
   Along with Rama, specifically on the auspicious day of Diwali, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is worshipped. Lighting lamps and putting up new decorations are believed to invite Lakshmi’s positive energy into one’s home.
3. Krishna and Narakasura
   On Naraka Chaturdashi, also known as Chhoti Diwali, Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasura.
4. Govardhan Puja/Annakut
   On the fourth day, the devotees celebrate Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan to protect the villagers and revel with a “mountain of food” (Annakut).
5. Bhai Dooj
   The last day of Diwali is set aside for siblings. Sisters pray for their brothers’ safety, and brothers offer their blessings to their sisters.

Symbolic Messages for Us

• Light as optimism:
  Periods of darkness (both personal and societal) prompt us to choose hope and positivity, and dialogue is facilitated by light from our festival of Diwali.
• Renewal and cleaning:
  The tradition of cleaning your home, throwing things away, and decorating at home is also aligned with renewal, as well as removing negativity a strong purpose of each light of Diwali.
• Generosity and community:
  The act of sharing sweets, generosity, and gathering further establish social capital.
• Enlightenment over ignorance:
  It is also interpreted as the internal light (wisdom, self-awareness) triumphing and exceeding ignorance.

How To Celebrate Diwali 2025 (Ritual and Traditions)

For someone steeped in traditions from India, each day of Diwali is filled with specific customs, some of those customs include pujas, and some are rituals and practices. For those in the diaspora (for example, in the U.S.) many of those customs might change according to space, laws, and local culture.

Dhanteras & Preparations

Dhanteras marks the first day of the festival. “Dhan” refers to wealth, while “teras” refers to the 13th day of the lunar calendar. Ways of thinking around this day include:

• Purchasing gold, silver, or utensils — engaged with the notion of auspicious investments, inviting wealth and good fortune.
• Cleaning / decorating the house — often days ahead, people thoroughly clean and paint and also decorate their entry with rangoli (decorative floor art).
• Lighting small lamps when people place diyas at the entrances to welcome good energy or vibrations.
• Lakshmi and Kubera puja — do these at a minimum in some houses and sometimes at dusk.
• In the U.S., Indian stores are selling Diwali lights and other brass items and sweets weeks ahead of the festival. Likewise, many diaspora families heavily shop earlier simply to avoid the shipping delays or running out of stock.

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Naraka Chaturdashi / Chhoti Diwali 2025

• An early morning practice, called abhyanga snana — an oil bath using a fragrant oil before the sun rises is encouraged.
• Lighting a lamp at dusk to drive away darkness.
• Offering Yama (god of death) by placing a lamp — a practice in some parts using a lamp (Yama Deepam).
• In India, crackers are most common, and in the U.S., many events in diaspora communities feature limited firework displays (subject to local legal permission) or alternatives (germanspring.com) with some measure of firework.

Lakshmi Pujan & Main Diwali

• Evening Puja of Lakshmi & Ganesha — this involves worshipping and chanting mantras and offering sweets, flowers, incense sticks, coins and grains.
• Lighting rows of diyas / candles / LED lights as homes, balconies, windows and backyards are illuminated.
• Firecrackers (where permitted) or small fireworks/sparklers.
• Feasting and sweets — sweets are also shared across neighbors, family and friends.
• Visiting friends or family, exchanging gifts.
• In the US, many communities organize public Diwali fairs, events at temples and cultural performances and welcome non-Hindus too!

Govardhan Puja / Annakut

• Provide a wide range of vegetarian foods (Annakut/”mountain of food”) to Krishna.
• Do a symbolic worship of Govardhan Hill (some build mounds of food).
• The reason this is done is in commemoration of Krishna’s lifting of the hill to protect the villagers from pouring rain (heavy rains).
• Many temples in the diaspora also replicate the Annakut offering but at a smaller level.

Bhai Dooj

• Sisters carry out aarti, placing tilak on their brothers’ foreheads.
• In exchange, brothers will reciprocate by gifting or giving blessings.
• Exchanging of special meals or sweets will take place.

How Others Can Celebrate Diwali 2025 (Non-Hindus)

Why it matters even if you’re not Hindu

• Taking part in Diwali meaningfully is an opportunity for understanding and dismantling barriers.
• The act of lighting a lamp, the idea of thinking about good vs. bad, or letting go of what is negative, all ideas present around the world.
• Many groups of the Indian diaspora are very welcoming to outsiders; you can engage in temple events, school fairs, and give/receive traditional sweets.
• Rangoli art, lights, music, and dance. These are many ways to enjoy, take pictures of, or learn about Diwali.
• Think about what light vs. darkness means to you, what it is for gratitude, or generosity.

How to engage respectfully

• Check with us first about participating in the puja (ritual) follow the Temple dress code which generally expects that attire covers shoulders and is modest. 
• As a general rule, though you can contribute to the decorations, use colors and materials that are not offensive.
• Do not step on or disturb sacred items (but it is ok to leave garlands alone, do not disturb or alter altars). 
• Be curious! Ask questions! Show interest!
• Share sweets and offer to help when gifting, cleaning, and welcoming. 
• Lastly, if sparklers or firework are not allowed or regulations, bring LED candles or other community lighting.

Benefits you can experience

• Tighter community connections, cross-cultural relationships.
• Fresh viewpoint on gratitude, light, renewal.
• Possibility to learn, and grow one’s spiritual horizons.
• Photos, memories, meaningful tradition inclusion.

Practical Tips to Celebrate Diwali 2025 in the USA

• Review local restrictions / permits — certain areas even prohibit certain fireworks or carry-sell associated prohibitions.
• Get items early — delays and shortages could be real in October.
• Utilize small / indoor-safe decorations — LED light strings, electric diyas, small rangoli patterns.
• Temple / center collaboration — connect with the nearest local temple or organized Diwali event. They often provide space and/or lighting, and they create a flow for the rituals prior.
• Time of day — schedule pujas / events at times that enable most people to attend (evening hours).
• Invite non-Indian friends — send them cultural context, small guides; invite the person/family to participate with you.
• Take pictures & post — it’s cultural to reinforce your values; even through social media can certainly extend respect and knowledge to a wider audience.
• Donate / give back — many local temples run charity drives during Diwali, whether it’s clothes, food, or other donations.

Misconceptions & Myths About Diwali

Diwali is simply about celebrations and fireworks
Actually, it is mainly a religious and symbolic festival which holds a deeper meaning. Fireworks are a bonus in many locations.

It’s just a “Hindu party” for fun.
It is grounded in thousands of years of religious purpose, mythology, philosophy and symbolism.

All regions of India celebrate Diwali the same
No — they celebrate Diwali quite differently: in South India, for example, South festivals may focus on new year; in Bengal Kali Puja occurs at the same time; and in Gujarat Govardhan Puja is more significant.

It’s only for Indians.
No — Diwali is celebrated by Jains and Sikhs and even some Buddhists with their own meanings.

The louder the fireworks, the better.
There are many communities that have reduced fireworks for health reasons, safety and noise pollution. More fireworks don’t mean more devotion.

It’s always a public holiday in the US.
No, not universally. Only certain U.S. states recognize it; some places institutions just continue as normal.

Religious / Symbolic Reasons for Burning Firecrackers

Expelling evil and negativity:
Numerous Hindu traditions assert that loud sounds and bright lights can dispel darkness, evil spirits, and negativity. The loud “crack” of the firecracker represents a warning to evil spirits and the brightness symbolizes their disbursement.

Celebration of Victory / Conquering of Evil
Diwali is associated with various stories of good conquering evil (e.g. return of Rama to Ayodhya, Krishna slaying Demons, etc.). Firecrackers are a celebratory expression of joy in the festivity — the “bang” and light signals to all that they have had victory over evil and feel safe in a newly benevolent time.

Welcoming Goddess Lakshmi into the home (prosperity and wealth)
On the main evening of Diwali, devotees light diyas, lamps and occasionally firecrackers to shine light and illuminate their surroundings. The diyas are believed to feature light in one’s life and act as a space for blessings. Fireworks tend to enhance the majesty and vibrancy of that festive and illuminated ambience.

Expression of joy, abundance and community
Firecrackers are celebratory in nature. There is joy in noise, in exuberance, in time of festivity. In a communal setting, particularly with many people together lighting firecrackers, they create a shared expression of celebration and feelings of bonding. Firecrackers serve as a traditional cultural expression in which you amplify the experience of the festival.

Historical / Evolved Ritual
While not an original piece from Vedic ritual texts, firecrackers over time, became considered part of festival practices as they evolved with local practices of the community and princely display/ technology.

• The dissonant sound (scientific) supports the symbolic attempt to ward off negative forces (religious).
• The burst of light & color (scientific) implies “light over darkness” (religious).
• The sudden eruption of energy, experience, action, collective action – the energy of hundreds of simultaneous experiences magnifies emotional impact, strengthens participants’ bonds, and helps make the festival memorable.

So firecrackers are not just “for fun”, but also serve as sensory mediators – that is, as sound (scientific) & light (scientific) to translate the spiritual symbols into something we feel; they make our abstract ideas (victory, illumination, hope) tangible and felt experience.