Diwali

noun

Di·​wa·​li də-ˈwä-lē 

-ˈvä-

variants or less commonly Divali or Dewali

plural Diwalis also Divalis or Dewalis

: a Hindu festival of lights held in late October or early November

Candlelight and lanterns are traditional beacons of autumn and winter for many cultures—from Diwali to Christmas to Hanukkah—as communities usher in longer nights.

—Leeta-Rose Ballester

Examples of Diwali in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This year, Diwali falls on Oct. 31, according to the Hindu American Foundation's holiday calendar. —Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024

In new play in India, and across several other markets, two films went head-to-head for the Diwali holiday. —Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2024

India was closed for Diwali, and the Philippines was closed for All Saint’s Day, which is also known as All Hallows’ Day, and celebrates all the saints of the Church. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

With Diwali having just passed and Thanksgiving on the horizon, the holiday season is officially here. —Averi Baudler, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Hindi dīvālī, divālī, going back to Middle Indo-Aryan dīvālī-, dīvāvalī-, going back to Sanskrit dīpāvaliḥ "row of lights, the Diwali festival," from dīpaḥ "lamp, light" (noun extracted from dīpayati "[s/he] sets alight, lights, illuminates," causative derivative from the base of dī́deti "[it] shines, is bright") + āvaliḥ "row, line" (of uncertain origin) — more at psychedelic entry 1

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined above