Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring November 8, 2026, as Diwali - Festival of Lights in Rockville, Maryland
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Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommend that the Mayor and Council read, approve, and present proclamation to Punam Thukral, City of Rockville Housing Specialist, Community Planning and Development Services.
Discussion
Diwali (also known as Deepavali or Diwali) is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. The festival lasts five days and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November). This is one of the most popular festivals of Hinduism. Diwali symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.”
The festival is widely associated with Lakshmi, Goddess of prosperity, and is associated with other regional traditions connecting the holiday to Sita and Rama, Vishnu, Krishna, Yams, Yami, Durga, kai, and Hanuman, to name a few.
Observances: Diya and lighting, home decoration, shopping, fireworks, puja (prayers), gifts, feast, and sweets.
In the lead-up to Diwali, celebrants prepare by cleaning, renovating, and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas.
Who Celebrates Diwali?
Diwali is primarily celebrated by followers of the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain faiths. However, the holiday is celebrated throughout India, Singapore, and several other South Asian countries as a national holiday, meaning that people outside these religions may participate in Diwali celebrations, too. Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and elsewhere around the globe also regularly celebrate Diwali.
When Is Diwali?
Diwali occurs annually in autumn (or spring, in the southern hemisphere), during the Hindu month of Kartik. (To put it in Western terms, Kartik begins around mid-October and ends in mid-November.) Specifically, Diwali occurs on the darkest day of the lunar month, which is the day of the new Moon.
Day 1 - Dhanteras: November 6, 2026 (Friday) Trayodashi
This is the first day of the festival, when people clean their homes and prepare for the events ahead. This is also a busy shopping day when it is considered lucky to go to markets and buy gold or new kitchen items.
Day 2 - Choti Diwali: November 7, 2026 (Saturday) Chaturdashi
The second day is when people start decorating their homes. Many families will put up string lights and start creating their rangoli, which are intricate designs placed on the floors of homes.
Day 3 - Diwali and Lakshmi Puja: November 8, 2026 (Sunday) Amavasya
The most important part of the celebration is the ritual that takes place on this day.
Clay oil lamps or diyas are lit, and rituals worshipping the goddess Lakshmi are performed. The worshipping can be done at temples or at home by placing a red cloth on the puja chowki ('worship table'), putting the idol on it, and then offering flowers, fruits (water chestnuts, pomegranate, quince, and coconut) and sweets (notably kesari bhaat - semolina pudding with saffron, nuts, and sugar) to Goddess Lakshmi, then prostrating in front of the idol and joining your palms for prayers.
On the day of Diwali, families get together to exchange gifts and have a large meal. Many people wear their nicest clothes on this day and say "Happy Diwali" to each other.
Day 4 - Padwa: November 9, 2026 (Monday) Pratipada
The fourth day of celebrations is dedicated to the love between husband and wife, and men will often buy gifts for their wives. Many businesses open new accounts on this day as it is considered auspicious.
Day 5 - Bhai Duj: November 10, 2026 (Tuesday) Dwitiya
Bhai Duj (Bhaubeej), the last day of celebrations, is dedicated to brothers and sisters. To celebrate their bond, sisters perform a special ceremony for their brothers for their protection. Brothers give presents to their sisters.
Importance of 5 Days of Diwali - The Five Days of Diwali Festivities
The Diwali festival extends beyond cultures and religions, encompassing and surrounding all. That is the only thing that makes Diwali the most famous festival in India. The 5 days of Diwali have something for everyone, from informative poojas for faith lovers to night-long card parties.
The 5 days of Diwali do not last merely five days but almost the entire week, the celebrations lasting 5 days, and after-effects here and there for the remaining two days. The beauty of this festival is the unity of five different ideas, each of which takes place in a special thought or ideal every day. Therefore, every five days of festivities, people celebrate with true intelligence to enhance their lives.
It is a true market festival, from a local goldsmith to a local potter. Much is done, and even the poorest or forgotten parts of society are helped to make some money by legal means through this commercial practice. Blessings of Lord Kuber may also be sought by buying the Kuber yantra.
1st Day of Diwali Week - Dhanteras
Dhanteras, also known as Dhanvantari Trayodashi, marks the first day of the Diwali week and the official beginning of the festival’s sparkling celebrations. It falls on the 13th lunar day (Trayodashi) of the Krishna Paksha, the waning phase of the moon in the Hindu month of Kartik.
According to tradition, this auspicious day is associated with the emergence of Lord Dhanvantari, the divine physician, who is believed to have risen from the ocean during the celestial churning of the sea, bringing with him the knowledge of Ayurveda for the well-being of humanity. Because of this connection to health, prosperity, and renewal, Dhanteras has long been considered an especially favorable day for purchasing gold, silver, precious ornaments, new utensils, and clothing.
At sunset, families take a ritual bath and offer prayers for protection and well-being. A lighted diya and prasad (blessed sweets) are offered in honor of Yama Raj, the Lord of Death. This offering is traditionally placed near a Tulsi (Holy Basil) plant or another sacred tree in the home’s courtyard, symbolizing devotion, gratitude, and the hope for safety and longevity.
2nd Day of Deepavali - Choti Diwali
Kali Chaudas, also known as Narak Chaturdashi, is observed as the second day of the Diwali week and is commonly referred to as Choti Diwali in many parts of India. According to tradition, this day commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and the liberation of the world from fear and oppression.
Traditionally, people observe this day by massaging the body with oil, followed by a bath to relieve fatigue and prepare themselves-physically and spiritually-for the festivities of Diwali. Some customs suggest avoiding lighting diyas or leaving the home on this day.
In modern times, however, Choti Diwali has become a joyful occasion for visiting friends and family, exchanging good wishes for a happy and prosperous Diwali, and sharing gifts and sweets.
3rd Day of Diwali Week - Actual Diwali Day
The third day of Diwali is considered the main and most significant day of the five-day festival. On this sacred day, Hindus worship Goddess Lakshmi, the bringer of prosperity, and Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Families come together, often guided by their pandit (priest), to perform traditional rituals seeking blessings for wealth, wisdom, harmony, and the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
Before the evening worship, many people cleanse and purify themselves as part of the spiritual preparation. As night falls, homes across India come alive with the warm glow of diyas and candles, symbolizing hope and renewal. Streets shimmer with fairy lights, and the sky bursts with firecrackers, creating a vibrant celebration of joy, togetherness, and divine blessing.
4th Day of Diwali Week - Vishwakarma Day After Diwali
The fourth day of the five-day Diwali festival is celebrated in diverse ways across India, reflecting the rich cultural traditions of different regions.
In the western states, especially Gujarat, this day is observed with great enthusiasm as Bestu Varas, the Gujarati New Year. Families visit temples, exchange good wishes, and begin the new year with prayers for prosperity and success.
In many northern Indian states, the fourth day is devoted to honoring tools, instruments, machinery, and equipment used in daily life and work. Here, it is celebrated as Govardhan Puja, Vishwakarma Day, and also known as Annakut. Many businesses choose to remain closed as people perform rituals to express gratitude for the tools that support their livelihoods.
According to tradition, Lord Krishna first introduced the people of Vraja to Govardhan Puja thousands of years ago. Since then, Hindus have offered thanks to Govardhan Hill each year, honoring Krishna’s guidance and the devotion of the Vraja community during the very first Govardhan celebration.
5th Day of Diwali Week - Bhai Dooj
The fifth and final day of the Diwali festival is celebrated as Bhai Dooj (also known as Bhai Beej, Bhai Tika, or Yama Dwitiya). This day honors the sacred bond between brothers and sisters and carries deep spiritual significance rooted in ancient tradition.
According to the Vedic legend, Yama, the Lord of Death, visited his sister Yamuna on this day many ages ago. Pleased by her devotion, he granted her a vardhan (boon) that anyone who visited their sister on this day would be freed from all sins and attain moksha, or ultimate liberation. From this belief grew the cherished custom in which brothers visit their sisters and their families to inquire about their well-being, and sisters lovingly prepare sweets and offer prayers for their brothers’ long, healthy, and prosperous lives.
Families mark the occasion with a traditional aarti, shared meals, and the exchange of gifts, expressing mutual affection and gratitude.
With Bhai Dooj, the five-day celebration of Diwali comes to a close, concluding the festival with blessings, togetherness, and the reaffirmation of family bonds.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council proclaim this proclamation annually.