diwali

Where does the word "diwali" come from? It comes from Sanskrit dipavali, passing through Hindi before entering English (20th c.).

Diwali’s story begins in Sanskrit: dipavali meant “a row of lights.” Compound of 'light' and 'row, series'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as diwali. Became the name of the festival of lights. It reached English by 20th c. as Diwali. Mentioned as early as 1698 by John Fryer, an East India Company surgeon, in his account of India and Persia. Today, diwali means a major festival celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, marked by lights, fireworks, and the triumph of light over darkness.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient dipavali "a row of lights", compound of 'light' and 'row, series'.
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval diwali "the festival of lights", became the name of the festival of lights.
3. Stage 3 · English · 20th c. Diwali "a major South Asian festival celebrating light's triumph over darkness", mentioned as early as 1698 by John Fryer, an East India Company surgeon, in his account of India and Persia.