Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring October 20, 2025 as Diwali - Festival of Lights in Rockville, Maryland
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Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council read and approve this proclamation.
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.
Source: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali>
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: October 18th 2025 (Saturday) 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: October 19th, 2025 (Sunday) 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: October 20th, 2025 (Monday) 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: October 21st, 2025 (Tuesday) 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: October 22nd, 2025 (Wednesday) 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 (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) is the first day of Diwali week, marking the official beginning of the sparkling Diwali festivities. Indeed, this is the 13th lunar day of the Krishna Paksha, the dark quarter of the month of Karthik, according to the Hindu calendar.
Dhanteras is a special day, as it is thought that Lord Dhanwantari came from the sea on this day with Ayurveda, a medical science, for the good of humankind. A large number of purchases take place this day, particularly gold, silver, and precious stones, ornaments, new clothing, and utensils.
At sunset, Hindus bathe and pray for the safety of Yama Raj, the Lord of Death, with a lighted deeya, Prasad (sweets offered during worship). This offering is rendered near the Tulsi tree, the Holy Basil, or any sacred tree in the yard.
You can also book an online Lakshmi Puja, performed exclusively for you by our learned Pandits.
This day marks the start of the Diwali festivities.
2nd Day of Deepavali - Choti Diwali
Kali Chaudas, or Narak Chaturdashi, is known as the second day of Diwali week. It is just the Choti Diwali; the festival celebrated on the second day of Deepavali in some parts of India.
It is understood that Lord Krishna killed Narakasur’s demon on this day, freeing the world from terror.
It is believed that on this day, the body must be massaged by oil to alleviate fatigue, bathing, and rest so as to celebrate Diwali with vigour and pity. It is also thought that on this day you shouldn’t light diyas or step out of your home. In modern times, however, on Choti Diwali, people visit each other to wish ‘a happy, successful Diwali’ and exchange gifts and sweets.
3rd Day of Diwali Week - Actual Diwali Day
The real Diwali is on the third day of the 5 days of Diwali. It is the day when Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are worshipped. Hindus get purified and join their families and their Pandit (priest) to worship the Divine Goddess Lakshmi for the blessings of prosperity and riches, the victory of good over evil, and light over darkness. People in their homes are lighting diyas and candles, and millions of crackers, crackers, and fairy lights are on the street throughout India.
4th Day of Diwali Week - Vishwakarma Day After Diwali
The fourth day of the five days of Diwali is celebrated in different ways in India. This day is observed with pomp as Bestu Varas, the new year according to its calendar in western states such as Gujarat.
In Northern Indian states, this day, when people worship their instruments, arms, and equipment, is commonly celebrated as the day of Govardhan Puja and the day of Vishwakarma. Therefore, most or all businesses remain closed on this day. Also named Annakut this day.
Lord Krishna brought the people of Vraja to Govardhan Puja several thousand years ago. From then on, Hindus worship Govardhan every year in honor of the first Puja of the Vraja people.
5th Day of Diwali Week - Bhai Dooj
The fifth of 5 days of Diwali is celebrated as the Bhai Dooj or Bhai Beej day. Yama (Yamraj, the Lord of Death) came to his sister Yamuna on this day several moons ago during the Vedic period. He gave a Vardhan (a boon) to his sister so that the person who visited her that day would be freed from all sins and attain moksha or ultimate liberation.
From then on, the brothers visit their sisters and their children to inquire about their well-being, and the sisters prepare sweets as a mark of love for their brothers.
The five days of Diwali festivities come to an end on this day.
Diwali Day 3 is considered the most important day of the Diwali festival, as celebrants visit family and friends to feast and exchange sweets and gifts. Celebrants also continue to light lamps and candles to welcome light and prosperity from the Goddess Lakshmi.
The last day of the five-day-long Diwali festival ends with Bhai Dooj, the day when sisters pray for long and happy lives for their brothers. Bhai Dooj is also called Yama Dwitiya, Bhai Tika, or Bhai Bij. Brothers and sisters share their love for each other with an Aarti, a meal, and gifts.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council present this proclamation annually.