Pop-Up Program: Diwali Diyas

To celebrate Diwali, drop by any of our library locations to to pick up a Diwali Diya paper plate to-go craft kit, get some recommendations of books by authors who celebrate Diwali, and grab a free chai tea bag while supplies last. This drop-in event is available on October 17.

Diwali is the Indian “festival of lights,” celebrating the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and the blessings of victory, freedom, and enlightenment. The name comes from Sanskrit Deepavali, meaning “row of lights.” In 2025, Diwali begins on Monday, October 20, with celebrations continuing into Tuesday, October 21.

The holidays follow a lunar calendar, not the modern Gregorian calendar, so Diwali does not always have the same timing every year. The main celebration of Diwali takes place on the day of the new Moon when the sky is at its darkest, so a big part of the celebration revolves around light. On the evening of Diwali, celebrants light dozens of candles and clay lamps called diyas, placing them throughout their homes and in the streets to light up the night. 

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