Resources for Diwali
from the Multicultural Calendar
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 diversityeducation@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 2024-25 academic year, as part of a broader effort to elevate understanding and recognition of religious, faith-based, and spiritual identity.
Diwali‚ the Hindu "festival of lights‚" is an extremely popular holiday for multiple religions (including Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain) throughout Southern Asia. In 2024, the holiday is on Friday, November 1. 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.
General Practices for the holiday include lighting oil lamps and candles, setting off fireworks, and prayer.
Recommendations for Accommodation
We recommend avoiding scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on this date. Those celebrating will likely request the day off.
Additional resources:
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.
Additional information on accommodations for faith-based and cultural observances at UC Davis Health
Resources for understanding: religious, faith-based, and spiritual identity