India's top court banned traditional firecrackers in Delhi amid air quality concerns ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Diwali is the five-day festival of lights, symbolizing the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and spiritual light over darkness, per the Hindu American Foundation.

India celebrates together, yet it doesn't. Countries across the world pause for week-long holidays, but India's fragmented festival calendar does not allow a national breather. Diwali might be the one festival that could be our chance to pause,

President Trump celebrated Diwali at the White House, extending warm wishes to India and the Indian-American community. He spoke fondly of Prime Minister Modi, calling him a "great friend" and discussing trade and regional peace.

Celebrating Diwali in Denver, Udemy co-founder Gagan Biyani said that the US now embraces Indian culture more openly than before.

FBI Director Kash Patel, the first Indian-American to head the agency, faced a wave of online hate after posting Diwali greetings on X. Some users told him to “stop promoting foreign gods” and called for Hindus to be deported.