Diwali emoji meanings: diya, fireworks and the lotus
The diya lamp is the Diwali emoji. It shows the small clay oil lamp that families set in rows on doorsteps, balconies and windows; the festival’s other name, Deepavali, means “row of lamps” in Sanskrit. It was added in Unicode 12.0 in 2019, after years of people making do with the candle or fire , which still work as backups.
Fireworks , the hand-held sparkler and the firecracker stand for the crackers of Diwali night, the “Diwali crackers emoji” people search for. add sparkle to any wish, and the light bulb can stand in for strings of electric fairy lights.
The lotus is the flower of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune worshipped on the main night. The yellow blossom is the nearest keyboard match to the marigold garlands hung over doors, the hibiscus is offered in puja, and the rosette and the artist palette make a good stand-in for rangoli, the coloured patterns drawn at the entrance.
Happy Diwali emoji for gods, prosperity and family
The Om , the temple and folded hands bring the puja into a message; also reads as a namaste. The elephant is a common nod to Ganesha, worshipped alongside Lakshmi, and the owl is Lakshmi’s vehicle in Bengali tradition. In North India Diwali marks Rama’s return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, which is what and (for Hanuman) point to.
Prosperity is a big part of the festival. Dhanteras, the first day, is a traditional day to buy gold, silver or new utensils, hence and the rupee sign . Families clean the house to welcome Lakshmi, buy new clothes , and visit each other with boxes of sweets . Warm orange and yellow hearts match the colours of the lamps and marigolds better than red.
Diwali symbols and their meanings
Diwali falls on the new-moon night of the month of Kartika, the darkest night of the lunar month , which is why lighting it up carries the meaning of light winning over darkness. It is a festival of five days, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, celebrated by Hindus, by Sikhs as Bandi Chhor Divas and by Jains as the night Mahavira attained nirvana.
The Hindu swastika 卐 is one of the most searched Diwali symbols. In Sanskrit svastika means “conducive to well-being”; it is drawn in red or vermilion at doorways and on account books during Lakshmi puja, usually upright with a dot in each quarter. It has nothing to do with the tilted Nazi emblem, but outside South Asia it is easily misread, so many people prefer or in public posts.
For text wishes there are plain symbols too: the Devanagari double danda ॥, which frames Hindi greetings like ॥ शुभ दीपावली ॥, and decorative flowers and stars for a caption such as ✧ Happy Diwali ✧.
Symbols
50Click a symbol to copy it and open its page.
How to use them
5 situationsClick to copyDiwali Emoji combos
13Worth knowing
- Diwali is celebrated on Amavasya, the new-moon night, so it is the darkest night of its month — the lamps are meant to be seen against true darkness.
- Sikhs celebrate the same night as Bandi Chhor Divas, the release of Guru Hargobind from Gwalior Fort, and the Golden Temple in Amritsar is lit up for it.
- There was no oil-lamp emoji until 2019: the diya arrived in Unicode 12.0 together with the Hindu temple and the sari .
- Because of winter smog, Delhi has repeatedly restricted or banned firecrackers around Diwali in recent years, and “green crackers” with lower emissions were introduced in response.
Questions people ask
7What is the Diwali emoji?
The diya lamp , a small clay oil lamp, is the emoji most associated with Diwali. Fireworks , the sparkler and sparkles are usually sent with it.
How do I copy and paste Diwali emoji?
Tap or click any emoji on this page to copy it, then paste it into WhatsApp, Instagram or a text message. The combos copy as one line.
What are good Diwali emoji combos?
for a classic wish, for celebration, for prosperity, and for sweets and gifts.
Is there a diya emoji on iPhone?
Yes. has been on iPhone and Android since 2019 (iOS 13.2 / Unicode 12.0). If it shows as a box, the phone’s software is older than that.
What does the diya emoji mean?
It stands for light, purity and good fortune: the oil lamps of Diwali that welcome Lakshmi and mark the victory of light over darkness.
What is the Diwali symbol swastika?
The Hindu swastika 卐 is an ancient sign of good luck and well-being, drawn at doors and on account books during Diwali. It predates and is unrelated to the Nazi symbol.
What are the symbols of Diwali and their meanings?
Diyas for light over darkness, the lotus for Lakshmi, rangoli for welcome, fireworks for celebration, sweets for sharing, and coins for prosperity.
