Dipavali and Dipa Dana

What is Dipavali and Dipa Dana?

Dipavali, also written Diwali or Deepabali, is the festival of lamps, and dipa dana is the offering of lamps to the Lord. In 2026 the festival falls on Monday, 9 November.

Significance

Srila Prabhupada explained that Lord Ramacandra was banished for fourteen years by order of His father, Maharaja Dasaratha, and that the people of Ayodhya observed this ceremony with lamps while He was away. The devotee Bharata took charge of the kingdom in His absence, and Diwali is the day Lord Ramacandra took it back and sat on the throne. Writing to Hamsaduta Dasa, Srila Prabhupada described how devotees can keep the festival today:

Diwali ceremony can be observed in the temple by illuminating 100's of candles, in different parts of the temple, and offering special Prasad to the Deity.

Letter to Hamsaduta, Seattle, 10 October 1968

How to observe it

Light lamps or candles around your home altar and offer them to the Lord. This offering of light is dipa dana. Offer the Deity a special prasadam too. Srila Prabhupada added that the prasadam can be distributed the next day, at Govardhana Puja and Annakuta, so the festival carries on into Tuesday, 10 November.

This holy day falls in Kartik, the month of Lord Damodara, when devotees offer Him a lamp each evening and sing Damodarashtakam. Read about Kartik (Damodara) Month, and offer your own lamp from wherever you are through our Kartik Deep Daan Seva.