Modi hails Unesco listing of Diwali: ‘People in India are thrilled’

Festival of Lights is the 16th Indian tradition to be inscribed to the list

Diwali or Deepawali is one of the biggest festivals in South Asia. EPA

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cheered the addition of Diwali or Deepavali, the festival of lights, to Unesco's Intangible Heritage List.

"People in India and around the world are thrilled," Modi posted on X. "For us, Deepavali is very closely linked to our culture and ethos. It is the soul of our civilisation. It personifies illumination and righteousness.

"The addition of Deepavali to the Unesco Intangible Heritage List will contribute to the festival’s global popularity even further," he added.

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Established in 2008, the lists aim to ensure better protection of cultural heritage and to promote their significance. This year's list is being compiled at a general session taking place in New Delhi until Saturday.

Intangible Cultural Heritages are divided into several lists, including the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which encompasses the practices and expressions of communities, and the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Diwali is the 16th Indian tradition added to Unesco's cultural heritage list.

"This honour belongs to every home that has ever lit a diya [lamp] and kept alive the spirit of renewal and hope," said Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, India's Minister of Culture and Tourism. "Today’s inscription is a global acknowledgement that this message resonates beyond borders and speaks to humanity’s shared yearning for harmony.

"This inscription is not only recognition; it is a responsibility. In a divided and uncertain world, the simple yet resolute significance of Deepavali may continue to endure: the lamp may be one, but its light belongs to all."

What is Diwali?

Diwali or Deepavali is one of the biggest festivals in South Asia. In countries such as India and Nepal, where the festival of lights is a major holiday, many splash out on big purchases such as jewellery, televisions, cars and property. Some even choose to take possession of new homes at this time.

Symbolising the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness, Diwali usually falls in early autumn, coinciding with the new moon, deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunar calendar. This is why the festival's dates change every year.

This year, celebrations began on October 18 with Dhanteras, with main Diwali falling on October 20.

While for many, Diwali honours Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, with lights and lamps said to welcome her and bring prosperity, for others, it celebrates the return of Hindu deity Ram to Ayodhya, having rescued his wife Sita from the clutches of the mythological demon king Ravana.

How is Diwali celebrated?

Hindus celebrate Diwali at Baps Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Predominantly a Hindu festival, other faiths including Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists also celebrate Diwali. As such, it has become a celebration of positivity and hope, and one that fosters unity and spreads joy among different communities and countries including the UAE (see below for events).

On the first day of celebrations, called Dhanteras, Hindus clean their homes and workplaces, symbolising renewal. Diyas or earthen lamps filled with oil are lit for the next five days and homes are decorated with lights and lanterns.

Many consider the day auspicious to make major purchases, from cars to gadgets. Jewellery, especially gold to appease goddess Lakshmi, is often bought, with jewellery shops in India and the UAE usually enjoying massive surges in sales on the day.

Doorways and entrances to workplaces are also decorated with rangoli, colourful designs made from flower petals, coloured rice or sand, which is meant to bring good luck.

People browse colourful lanterns for sale at a local market for Diwali in Mumbai. EPA

On the second day, called chhoti or small Diwali, a variety of Indian sweets are made at home or bought and then exchanged along with gifts among friends and family.

The third, or main day of Diwali, is when those celebrating wear new clothes or their best outfits and light fireworks, although this practice has ebbed over the years as people become more environmentally conscious. Parties and special events are held across communities to mark new beginnings, with “Happy Diwali” being the most common greeting.

The fourth day is mostly ritualistic, with many celebrations coinciding with the end of the harvest season.

The last day of the festival is called Bhai Dooj, or brothers' day, and marks the bond between sisters and brothers. Similar to Raksha Bandhan, where sisters tie symbolic charms around their brothers' wrists to ward off evil, during Bhai Dooj, brothers often travel to meet their sisters. On this day, sisters feed their brothers with their hands and receive gifts in return.