October 20, 2025 Diwali

Celebrate Diwali: The Festival of Lights

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is Monday, October 20, 2025. To those who celebrate, we wish you and your family a very auspicious and joyful Diwali!

Diwali marks the harvest and the start to the new year, celebrating victory, love, and togetherness. The holiday is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists, with each faith celebrating the underlying themes of good triumphing over evil and light over darkness. Examples of places that celebrate Diwali include Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States.

Last week, the governor of California signed a bill into law that makes Diwali an official statewide holiday. The law will go into effect January 1, 2026 and will authorize public schools and community colleges to close on Diwali, and allow for others to elect to take an excused absence to celebrate the holiday. California is the third state to make Diwali a statewide holiday, after Pennsylvania and Connecticut. According to a 2025 Pew survey, 20% of the Indian population in the U.S. live in California.

While cultural traditions vary, here is one example of a Diwali celebration: On the first day, homes are cleaned and a new item for the home is purchased to welcome good fortune. Beginning the second day, clay lamps and rangolis, colorful floor designs drawn using rice flour, chalk, flower petals, or other natural materials, are used to decorate and brighten the home. The third day, the darkest night of the lunar month, is the main event when prayers and religious rites take place, followed by fireworks and feasting. The fourth day, considered the start of the Hindu new year, is when gifts are exchanged between friends and families. The fifth and final day celebrates Bhai Dooj, the bond between brothers and sisters.

You can celebrate Diwali on campus at the SCU Intandesh Diwali celebration on October 24, 6-9PM.

Is there an international holiday you would like to see featured? Fill out our Google Form and let us know why it is important to you and how you celebrate it. We will consider including new international holiday suggestions in our plan for the next academic year.

In addition to this holiday, you can celebrate cultures in SCU’s global community anytime. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to share food or music that reflect their own culture through our SCU Flavors Around the World international cookbook and SCU Music Around the World Spotify playlist.