Diwali: the festival of lights Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is a Hindu festival Diwali, also known as Deepavali in the southern parts of India, follows the Hindu Lunar calendar. Many people have many different stories for how Diwali came to be. Some people say it is the day Lord Rama defeated the demon- king, Ravana. Other people say that it is the day Lord Krishna killed Naraka-sura. Though, all these stories are different, one thing remains always the same about diwali: It is a time to come together as a family.