Diwali 2025 Festival: Dates, Rituals, and 5-Day Celebration Explained

India's biggest celebration of lights, Diwali (also called Deepavali), represents the victory of good over evil, wisdom over ignorance, and light over darkness. Families come together for prayer, feast, donate to charitable organisations, decorate their homes with lights and diyas, and celebrate. The Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, and Hindu groups all place an immense amount of spiritual and cultural importance on it. 

When is Diwali 2025 Date?/ Diwali 2025 Date

Five days make up the Diwali calendar, each with its own customs and significance.
Day 1 (Dhanteras): 18th October, 2025.
Day 2 (Naraka Chaturdashi/ Choti Diwali) : 20th October, 2025.
Day 3 (Lakshmi Puja) : 21st October, 2025.
Day 4 (Govardhan Puja) : 22nd October, 2025.
Day 5 (Bhai Dooj/ Bhai Phota) : 23rd October, 2025.  

5-day Celebration Guide

Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi)
Dhanteras, which marks the beginning of the Diwali celebration, is considered a lucky day to purchase gold, silver, or home goods. It is said that shopping on this day will bring wealth.

Choti Diwali/ Naraka Chaturdashi
We celebrate this day as Lord Krishna defeated Narakasura. It symbolises the end of evil and darkness. People light diyas in the evening, take an oil bath known as Abhyanga Snan, and wake up early. Candles and lamps light homes, creating a festive atmosphere for the major Diwali celebration.

Lakshmi Puja / Diwali Puja 2025
On the third day, Diwali is celebrated, and people worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity, knowledge, and joy. In West Bengal, people puja Maa Kali. People create rangolis, light up candles, and temples are decked with flowers. At night, the fireworks light up the whole dark sky. In Bengal, people do pandal hopping to see the idols of Maa Kali.

Govardhan Puja / Annakut
Most people in North India observe Govardhan Puja, which is the day after Diwali. It is linked with the mythological story that Lord Krishna raised the Govardhan Hill on his little finger to shield the residents of Vrindavan from the rage of Lord Indra. To honour HIM, people prepare Annakut (the mountain of food), which includes various vegetarian foods, forming up like a mountain, as a sacrifice. On this day, we show our gratitude to the lord.

Yama Dwitiya/ Bhai Dooj/ Bhai Phota
Bhai Dooj, also known as Bhai Phota or Yama Dwitiya, is the final day of the Diwali celebration. It strengthens the relationships between brothers and sisters. Sisters pray for their brother’s health, and in return, brothers give different kinds of gift items, sweets, chocolates as a token of love and affection and promise to protect their sisters.  

How to Celebrate Dipawali 2025?

Clean up the house and its surroundings.
Use earthen diyas.
Give food, clothing, or money to people in need.
Spend meaningful time with your family and friends.
Pray for personal peace and world harmony.  

Cultural Significance of Dipawali 2025

In North India, it celebrates Lord Rama's homecoming to Ayodhya by lighting diyas around the kingdom.
In Gujarat, Chopda Pujan commemorates the conclusion of the fiscal year.
South India commemorates Lord Krishna's triumph over Narakasura.
In Bengal and Odisha, Diwali is associated with Kali Puja, which invokes the violent form of Goddess Durga.
Jainism honours Mahavira's Nirvana (liberation) on this night.
In Sikhism, it is commemorated as Bandi Chhor Divas, which marks Guru Hargobind Ji's release from jail.  

How the Utsav App Can Help You?

You can use the app to book a puja or a special prayer for things like strength and protection.
You can read stories or learn various things like traditions, cultural values in the app’s Gyan Section.
You can also book pujas on special days from the comfort of your own home.
You can book a full 5-day Diwali Puja service, including Lakshmi-Ganesha Archana, Chopda Pujan, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj rituals through our app.  

Conclusion

The festival of Diwali is about rituals, connection, contemplation, and joy. As the diya is lighted and the sweets are distributed, people come together to celebrate the light, prosperity, and unity. The closer the Diwali date, the more the expectation, and we can see why Diwali is still the most popular event in India