Di·wa·li (d ĭ-wä l ē)
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n. A five-day festival observed by Hindus, Sihks, and Jains in late October or early November to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness and of good over evil. Also called Festival of Lights.
[Hindi dīvālī, from Middle Indic dīvāvalī, dīvālī, from Sanskrit dīpāvaliḥ, row of lamps, Diwali : dīpaḥ, lamp; see dyeu- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + āvaliḥ, row, range; probably akin to āliḥ, row, line, and of non-Indo-European origin.] |