Diwali, the Festival of Lights

Diwali, the festival of lights, is India's largest and most widely celebrated festival, observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the country, each tradition attaching its own significance to the occasion — broadly, the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. The main celebration falls on a single night determined by the lunar calendar, typically in October or November, but the surrounding festival period spans roughly five days, each with its own smaller traditions building up to and following the main night itself.

The festival's visual signature is light itself — diyas, small clay oil lamps, are lit in vast numbers across homes, temples, shops and public spaces, joined in recent decades by string lights and, in many cities, fireworks, though fireworks restrictions have tightened in several major cities in recent years for air-quality reasons. For visitors, the most striking way to experience Diwali is through the cities that put on the most elaborate public displays rather than through private family celebrations, which remain the festival's core but are naturally less accessible to outside visitors.

Varanasi's ghats, already among the most atmospheric settings in India, become especially striking during Diwali, lit with thousands of lamps along the Ganges in a scene that draws photographers and visitors from across the world. Amritsar's Golden Temple takes on a similarly striking character, illuminated and reflected in its surrounding pool in one of the most photographed Diwali scenes anywhere in India. Jaipur and Delhi also light up significantly during the festival, with markets and public buildings across both cities strung with lights for the full period, making either a reasonable alternative for travellers whose itinerary doesn't extend to Varanasi or Amritsar.