Why are there fireworks? It’s Diwali — and here’s how to celebrate in Charlotte

If you've been in Charlotte long enough to notice the city's growing Indian community — or you've driven past a neighbor's house lit up with rows of tiny lamps this time of year — you've likely crossed paths with Diwali, even if you didn't know it.

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the biggest holidays in India. Think of it, scale-wise, as something close to Thanksgiving or Christmas. ✨

Here's a friendly primer on what it means, how it's celebrated and where you can experience it around the Queen City this year, pulled from CharlotteFive's previously published full guide to Diwali .

🪔 What is Diwali, exactly?

Diwali falls on different dates each year because the Hindu calendar doesn't line up with the Western one. It generally lands in October or November. It's usually a multi-day holiday, but in 2026, the Festival of Lights is celebrated Sunday, Oct. 8.

Santhoshi Radhakrishnan, a Fort Mill chef and entrepreneur who grew up celebrating Diwali in India, has helped CharlotteFive explain the holiday for folks who aren't familiar with it.

The origins of Diwali vary by region across India, Radhakrishnan said. In one telling, Diwali celebrates a Hindu god coming to Earth to destroy a demon that was destroying peace on Earth. In another, it celebrates a prince's royal homecoming after years in exile.

The through-line, no matter the version: Diwali marks the victory of good over evil. 💡

🎆 How Diwali is celebrated

Short answer? Sweets and fireworks. Lots of both.

In India, Diwali is a national holiday as big as Thanksgiving or Christmas, Radhakrishnan said. Traditions shift between the country's northern and southern regions, but sweets and fireworks are common threads.

"It's one of the most fun days in my childhood memories — Diwali is very special," she said.

"When I was a kid, we woke up at 4 a.m., as tradition," Radhakrishnan said. After getting ready for the day with help from her grandmother who lived downstairs, her mother would make a variety of sweets, along with idli, which are rice cakes, and goat korma.

"We'd feel so full and go downstairs to the front porch, and my dad would have all the fireworks ready for us to start setting off. The whole street would be so loud the whole day," she said.

In America, families who celebrate often gather with friends to eat homemade sweets and set off fireworks together. 🎇

"We try to follow the same tradition here by making Indian sweets at home and sharing it with friends on Diwali," Radhakrishnan told CharlotteFive.

🍬 The sweets you should know

A few of the sweets Radhakrishnan makes for Diwali:

• 🟡 Mysore pak:A soft, fudgelike sweet, made with chickpeas flour, sugar and butter.

• 🟤 Adhirasam:Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, made with rice flour, palm sugar, oil and a hint of cardamom.

• 🟠 Ladoo:Crispy deep-fried chickpea balls that are soaked in sugar syrup and mixed with cashew nuts, raisins and a hint of cardamom or rose essence.

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📅 Where to celebrate Diwali in Charlotte

Public celebrations on the calendar this year in the Charlotte area — all newcomer-friendly — include:

Opening Diwali celebration at Dakshin Delights🪔

New Fort Mill restaurant Dakshin Delights is holding a grand opening and Diwali celebration Nov. 6-8 with daily activities including Friday specials, a Saturday brunch buffet and kids activities, and a Sunday family day with all those activations.

📍 887 Gold Hill Rd #101, Fort Mill, SC

Diwali at Botiwalla🎉

Botiwalla Charlotte at Optimist Hall is throwing a Diwali party on Nov. 7 from 4 to 9 p.m., with a Bollywood DJ, free henna artist, sparklers, temporary tattoos and to-go treats. A special Diwali menu will feature vegetarian and vegan options including paneer tikka masala, pav bhaji, coconut kheer and amritsari sweet lassi.

📍 1115 N. Brevard St., Charlotte

Diwali festival at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir🪔

From Nov. 8-15, visitors can experience and be inspired by the decorative Festival of Lights, including a 10,000-lamp glow garden, during the Diwali and Hindu New Year 📍 4100 Margaret Wallace Road, Matthews

Zamindar's Clubhouse Diwali menu 🍽️

South End restaurant Zamindar's Clubhouse is offering a five-course Diwali menu Nov. 13-14, with seatings between 5-9:30 p.m. Reservations may be made via Resy .

📍 155 New Bern St, Charlotte, NC 28203

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This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists. To learn more about how our newsroom is using AI, see our policy here .