Diwali
दिवाली
dee-VAH-lee
Diwali (दिवाली) is a Sanskrit-origin word used in Indian English, meaning hindu festival of lights celebrated across India and the South Asian diaspora. In crosswords it is the 6-letter answer DIWALI (6).
Appears as an answer in MG Mini #1130.
Meaning & usage
Diwali, also written as Deepavali in southern India, marks the symbolic victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Families light rows of clay lamps (diyas), set off fireworks, exchange sweets, and clean and decorate homes. The festival typically falls in October or November and spans five days; the third day is the main one. While its mythological roots vary by region — Rama returning to Ayodhya in the north, Krishna defeating Narakasura in the south — the visual signature of glowing lamps is universal.
In a sentence
The whole street glowed with diyas on the night of Diwali.
Diwali as a crossword answer
Diwali is a 6-letter answer. A typical clue:
“Hindu festival of lights celebrated across India and the South Asian diaspora” (6)
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