Diwali

American  

[dih-wah-lee, ‐-vah‐, duh‐] / dɪˈwɑ li, ‐ˈvɑ‐, də‐ /

Also Divali,

noun

1. the Hindu festival of lights, celebrated as a religious holiday throughout India, falling between mid-October and mid-November.

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Diwali British  

/ dɪˈwɑːlɪ /

noun

1. a major Hindu religious festival, honouring Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Held over the New Year according to the Vikrama calendar, it is marked by feasting, gifts, and the lighting of lamps

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Usage

What is Diwali? Diwali is a major Hindu festival popularly called the “festival of lights.” Generally, Diwali is often considered a celebration of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.The festival commemorates different specific things in different places and among different communities. It is often associated with the goddess Lakshmi or with Rama (an avatar of the god Vishnu). For some Hindus, Diwali marks the start of the New Year.Diwali is also celebrated by some Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, though they may interpret and observe it differently.Diwali is a five-day festival, but its third day is typically observed as the main celebration.Diwali is pronounced dih-WAH-lee or dih-VAH-lee and can also be spelled Divali and Dewali. Other variants include Deepavali and Deepawali.

Example Sentences

Patel too, got it, after posting a message on Diwali, a religious holiday that celebrates the victory of light over darkness.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s why Vance was one of the only prominent GOP politicians who did not send a “Happy Diwali” message; he is acutely aware that even a simple acknowledgment would further inflame the white nationalist crowd.

From Salon

The city prioritizes adaptive recreation programs; hosts celebrations to honor Lunar New Year, Juneteenth and Diwali; and has an International Festival that recognizes the city’s diverse residents.

From MarketWatch

His cornea was damaged a week ago when an improvised firecracker device that he bought to celebrate the Diwali festival exploded near his face, causing him to lose vision in one eye.

From BBC

Aarish is among hundreds of children and young adults from at least five states across northern India who have suffered serious eye injuries from using the same kind of device - called "carbide guns" - during Diwali.

From BBC