Diwali Nov 12, 2023

Diwali

Diwali, the five-day festival of lights, holds significance in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It is celebrated widely both in India, and in countries across the world with an Indian diaspora. The name "Diwali" comes from the Sanskrit term "Dipavali," which means "row of lights," and the heart of the festival lies in the oil lamps, or "diyas," which illuminate homes and public spaces. They create a dazzling spectacle symbolizing the triumph of knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. The city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, India, pictured in today"s image, hosts one of the world"s largest displays of oil lamps. Hundreds of thousands of diyas are lit on the banks of the Sarayu River during Diwali.

© SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Nov 12, 2018Honoring those who served
Nov 12, 2019Sleep tight, little hedgehog
Nov 12, 2020Upstate autumn
Nov 12, 2021Beavers Bend
Nov 12, 2022Alaska Bald Eagle Festival
Nov 12, 2024Arches National Park anniversary
Nov 12, 2025Colosseum, Rome, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Oct 25, 2021Dyavolski Most
Oct 19, 2018Portland celebrates its bounty
Oct 14, 2020In praise of the old…the very old
Aug 20, 2019Lakeside serenity in Finland
Mar 31, 2022Happy Birthday, Eiffel Tower
Dec 26, 2019It s Slovenia s Independence and Unity Day
Aug 22, 2024Ocean City, Maryland, at sunrise
Jan 3, 2023Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
May 19, 2019High trekking season in Upper Mustang
May 9, 2019An endless journey
Jul 3, 2021Diving into the underwater nirvana
Oct 20, 2024International Sloth Day
Aug 30, 2023International Whale Shark Day
Dec 6, 2024Finnish Independence Day
Dec 19, 2022Northern cardinal in winterberry bush
Apr 21, 2019The Easter Bunny’s story
Jul 9, 2024Talampaya National Park, Argentina
Oct 25, 2025Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland
Jun 25, 2018Tracking ships on the Day of the Seafarer
Dec 14, 2024Christmas Bird Count turns 125
Apr 10, 2026Siblings Day
Oct 24, 2025Night view of the RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
Sep 23, 2024Sea Otter Awareness Week
Dec 17, 2020Pining for spring
Sep 25, 2022World Rivers Day
Aug 14, 2021When Death Valley blew its top
Feb 25, 2019High above the reef
Jan 16, 2026Leopard at Etosha National Park, Namibia
Jun 25, 2025Glastonbury Festival begins
Oct 23, 2025International Day of the Snow Leopard