Diwali is a festival that more than a billion people worldwide celebrate. Many ethnic groups across South Asia, mostly people in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka celebrate the festival. Canada accepts many immigrants from these countries making Diwali one of the biggest religious holidays in the country. Discover when Diwali is in 2023, and exciting events to mark the 5 days of Diwali across Canada.
Even though different religions have slightly different perceptions of Diwali, the main idea is the same. Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. This holiday commemorates the homecoming of Lord Rama after his victory over the demons.
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When is Diwali 2023?
Diwali is an annual celebration and usually falls between October and November. This year, people will celebrate the five days of Diwali starting on November 10th – 15th, 2023 with the main day of celebration on November 12th. The exact Diwali 2023 date is determined by the Hindu lunisolar calendar which looks at the movement of the moon and the sun from the earth. The festival takes place in the middle of Karkita, which is the 8th month in the Hindu calendar. Some versions of the calendar also put Karkita as the 7th month.
What are the 5 Days of Diwali 2023
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The 5 days of Diwali 2023 are a time to reflect on the significance of the festival and its spiritual meaning.
Day One: Friday, November 10, 2023
This day marks the beginning of Diwali celebrations and is dedicated to the worship of wealth and prosperity. A common ritual for people is to clean their homes and purchase new utensils, and gold, or silver items as a symbol to invite wealth.
Day Two, Saturday, November 11, 2023
This day commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and the importance of inner light. A common ritual is to light small lamps (diyas) to dispel darkness and negativity.
Day Three: Sunday, November 12, 2023
This is the main day of Diwali and celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after his victory over the demon king Ravana. A common ritual is to decorate homes with light rows of diyas.
Day Four: Tuesday, November 14, 2023
This day is associated with Lord Krishna lifting the Govardan Hill to protect villagers from torrential rains and flooding. It’s common to prepare vegetarian dishes and sweets to offer to Lord Krishna.
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Day Five: Wednesday, November 15, 2023
The last of the 5 days of Diwali celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, symbolizing love, protection, and sibling relationships. Families come together for a special meal and joyous celebrations on this day.
The Festival of Lights
Diwali is often referred to as “The Festival of Lights” for good reason. On Diwali, people like to light the inside and outside of their homes with rows of lamps. The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word, “Deepavali”, which means, “rows of lighted lamps”.
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Celebrating Diwali 2023 in Canada
Even though Diwali celebrations are quite different in Canada compared to South Asia, the holiday spirit is just the same. The first thing you will notice on Diwali is the lights. Many families that celebrate Diwali love to decorate the outside of their homes with Diyas, which are oil lamps made of baked clay. Diyas will be a common sight during Diwali, especially if you live in an area with a large South Asian population.
Because of Canada’s multicultural nature, Diwali is not just a South Asian celebration but a Canadian one too. Even though it is not a public statutory holiday, many Canadians from diverse cultural backgrounds celebrate this festival. Diwali shows us that Canadians embrace different cultural festivals. This is an amazing achievement, considering that only 7.1% of Canada’s population is of South Asian descent.
Diwali 2023 Celebrations Across Canada
Diwali is not just a cultural family celebration. With Diwali comes many city-wide celebrations and festivals. While you will be able to find Diwali celebrations almost anywhere in Canada, here are some of the largest celebrations.
Brampton, Ontario | Diwali Festival of Lights
Presented by Scotiabank, the Diwali Festival of Lights returns to Brampton on November 4th, 2023 at Shoppers World Brampton. This is the Greater Toronto Area’s largest free indoor. Returning for its 8th year, the event will feature musical performances and interactive Bollywood dance workshops, mouth-watering food, and fun activities for children.
Brampton | Diwali Mela
Hosted by the City of Brampton, the first-ever Diwali Mela will take place on Sunday, November 12, 2023. This exciting festival will celebrate the rich culture and traditions of Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists from around the world. Live music and performances from local and international artists, free family-friendly games, events, and delicious food vendors will be present.
Fireworks often symbolize the beauty of Diwali. However, there is a new fireworks by-law in Brampton that prevents residents from using fireworks. You can also receive a fine if you set off fireworks. But, you can still enjoy a dazzling city-run Diwali fireworks display!
Calgary, Alberta | Diwali Fest 2023
This year’s Diwali Fest on November 11th, 2023 holds special significance as people celebrate the Festival of Lights and the 10th anniversary of the Indians in Calgary community.
Halifax, Nova Scotia | Diwali Carnival
The Diwali Carnival – Festival of Lights celebration takes place from October 27 – 29, 2023. Halifax is a multicultural city with a large South Asian population. So, it’s no surprise that Halifax hosts one of the biggest Diwali celebrations in the maritime provinces. Event highlights include an open dance with Bollywood music and fireworks on Saturday night.
Surrey, British Columbia | Diwali Downtown Surrey
Diwali Downtown Surrey is the biggest Diwali celebration in British Columbia. The event on Sunday, November 5, 2023, has many fun activities for kids as well as music and live performances. Not to mention the food. It is impossible to have a Diwali celebration without having loads of traditional South Asian food. Hosted by Diwali Fest, the celebration will mark the organization’s 20th anniversary of curating Diwali events in British Columbia. Attendance is expected to be higher than usual, so be sure to RSVP to guarantee access to events!
Diwali is a great holiday because of how different it is from the rest of the Canadian holidays. It gives Canadians a new perspective and a chance to experience cultural traditions that may be new to them. It is great to see so many people from different backgrounds coming together to celebrate a culture that is not theirs. The 5 days of Diwali 2023 are a great way to learn about a new culture while having fun at the same time. For immigrant families celebrating Diwali in Canada, it’s a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with your roots away from your country. So, be sure to mark your calendar and check out Diwali festivals across Canada!
My name is Zain Usmani and I am a freelance content writer who currently resides in Mississauga, Ontario. I immigrated from Pakistan to Canada 5 years ago and have lived in many cities ever since. I have lived in Calgary AB, Edmonton AB, Regina SK, London ON, and Mississauga ON, while visiting over 40 Canadian cities and towns. I have a great passion for writing and I love helping people through it.
