Diwali in Jainism is a festival that centers on Moksha (liberation) of Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara.

• Core meaning

- It commemorates Mahavira’s Nirvana (release from the cycle of birth and death) and the light of true knowledge that dispels spiritual darkness. - Lamps are lit to symbolize this inner illumination and the spreading of right knowledge.

• When it happens

- The key observance is on Kartik Amavasya (the new moon night in the Kartik month). - In many Jain communities, the common date is the amavasya night in Kartik; local temple calendars may vary by a day due to panchang calculations. A widely cited traditional date is Kartik Amavasya night, which for some years falls in October or November. - Digambar and Śvetāmbara traditions may note small differences in the exact tithi (for example, some calendars link Nirvana to Kartik Krishna tithis in their system), but the spiritual focus remains the same.

• How Jains observe

- Lighting lamps (diyas), offering prayers to Mahavira, and reciting key Jain prayers or verses. - Fasting or practicing restraint is common in many communities. - Reading or listening to teachings about Mahavira’s life and kevala jñāna (omniscience) is encouraged. - Firecrackers are usually avoided to keep the celebration peaceful and mindful. - The festival also marks the end of the rainy-season retreat and can be a time for renewal of vows and acts of charity.

• Important notes about differences

- The essential meaning is identical across Digambar and Śvetāmbara communities: honor Mahavira’s Nirvana and renew commitment to ahimsa, truth, and self-discipline. - Specific customs, timings, and recitations can differ between the two traditions.

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