NEW DELHI, November 8: On this Diwali, everyone at The Press of Asia wishes you and your family a very happy, safe and bright Festival of Lights. Shubh Deepavali!
Diwali is the festival of the lamp. On this new-moon night, millions of homes light diyas to mark the victory of light over darkness, of good over evil and of knowledge over ignorance. Families worship Lakshmi and Ganesha, share sweets with neighbours, and remember those who cannot be home tonight.
The festival means different things to different communities: Rama’s return to Ayodhya in much of north India, Kali Puja in Bengal and the east, Mahavira’s nirvana for Jains, and Bandi Chhor Divas for Sikhs. It is celebrated far beyond India too: in Nepal, where it is known as Tihar, and in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and many other countries where Indian communities live. Since December 2025, Deepavali has been on UNESCO’s list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
A thank-you to our readers
To every reader who has opened The Press of Asia this year: thank you. Our aim is simple: to bring you news from India and across Asia, written clearly and checked against official sources. Your trust is what keeps us going.
If you ever spot a mistake in one of our reports, please tell us through our contact page. We correct errors openly under our corrections policy.
Celebrate safely tonight
- Keep diyas and candles away from curtains, clothes and anything that can catch fire, and never leave them burning unattended.
- If you burst crackers, keep children supervised and a bucket of water or sand close by.
- In Delhi-NCR, only certified green crackers are allowed, and only until 10 pm tonight, under the Supreme Court’s order; the full ban returns on November 9.
- Spare a thought for pets, older people and patients nearby, for whom loud noise and smoke can be distressing.
- In an emergency, call 112, India’s single emergency helpline number.
Our Diwali coverage
- History of Diwali: from Mahavira’s lamps and Al-Biruni’s ‘Dibali’ to UNESCO
- Diwali 2026: dates of the five days, what is celebrated and firecracker rules
- Deepotsav 2026: Ayodhya’s tenth Festival of Lamps
- PM Modi celebrates Diwali with security forces in Bastar
From all of us at The Press of Asia, may this Diwali bring light, health, peace and prosperity to your home.
With warm wishes,
Team The Press of Asia
Top photo (also cropped beside the logo): A lit clay diya on Diwali night in West Bengal, India. Image: Pinakpani, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photo source · Licence
Sources
- Embassy of India, Minsk: Deepavali added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list
- Emergency Response Support System (112 India)
The National Desk covers India's politics, governance, security and public-interest news. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
