Resources for Diwali / Deepavali
From the Multicultural Calendar
For a list of the upcoming religious and cultural observances, please visit our Multicultural Calendar, which serves as a valuable resource to foster understanding, accommodation, and respect for religious and cultural observances. It helps students, staff, and faculty plan events, activities, meetings, retreats, and courses throughout the year.
If you have updates, corrections, or suggestions for the calendar, please contact us at excellence@ucdavis.edu. All submissions will be carefully reviewed for inclusion.
In support of our patients, faculty, employees, students, and community members we would like to share the following resources for awareness, care, and guidance around accommodations to consider when hosting gatherings and/or meetings where food is provided during upcoming observances. We will be elevating the observances of various faith groups throughout the 2025-26 academic year, as part of a broader effort to elevate understanding and recognition of religious, faith-based, and spiritual identity.
Diwali / Deepavali
Diwali‚ the Hindu "festival of lights‚" is a holiday for multiple religions throughout Southern Asia. Diwali extends over five days and celebrates the victory of good over evil. The Times of India described Diwali as reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the simple. Fireworks, oil lamps, and sweets are common, making this a favorite holiday for children. The lamps are lit to help the goddess Lakshmi find her way into people's homes.
Date: October 20, 2025
Recommendations for Accommodation:
We recommend avoiding important academic deadlines, events, or activities during this day.
Additional resources:
- APASA-UCDH Diwali Celebration: Join in October 30th, from 11:00am to 1:30pm at the North Addition Office Building, Room 1115 for a joyful evening filled with light, laughter and togetherness.
- The Multicultural Calendar serves as a valuable resource to foster understanding, accommodation, and respect for religious and cultural observances. It helps students, staff, and faculty plan events, activities, meetings, retreats, and courses throughout the year.
- Resources for understanding: religious, faith-based, and spiritual identity