Where does “Diwali” come from?
Diwali comes from Hindi दिवाली, derived from Sanskrit दीपावलि, which combines Sanskrit दीप meaning "lamp" with Proto-Indo-European dyew(p) and dyew- meaning "to shine."
Ancestry of “Diwali”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Hindi | दिवाली | — |
| 2 | Sanskrit | दीपावलि | a row of lights, nocturnal illumination |
| 3 | Sanskrit | दीप | light; lamp, light source; light source |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | dyew(p) | to purify with light |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dyew- | to be bright; sky, heaven |