Diwali: Festival of lights

With fall in full swing, the days are becoming noticeably shorter in Canada. But for five consecutive nights in October, there will be plenty of joy and light, as adherents of the Hindu, Sikh and Jain faiths mark important religious holidays.

Hindus celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, by lighting diyas (oil lamps) or candles, exchanging gifts with family and friends, and enjoying sweets. Around the same time, Sikhs commemorate Bandi Chhor Divas Day, and Jains observe Mahavira Nirvana Diwas—both festivals that coincide with Diwali and are celebrated with similar traditions of light.

Diwali lights will burn brightest in Toronto

During the 2021 Census of Population, 828,195 Canadians reported Hindu as their religion, making Hinduism the second most reported non-Christian religion in Canada following Islam.

Just over two-thirds (69.3%) of Hindus living in Canada in 2021 called Ontario home (573,700 people). British Columbia (81,320), Alberta (78,520) and Quebec (47,390) also had large Hindu communities.

Diwali lights may first come on in Canada in Nunavut, home to 55 Hindus in 2021, where the sun will set at about 5:00 p.m. during the five-day festival.

Diwali lights will undoubtedly burn brightest in the Toronto census metropolitan area, home to over half (55.3%) of Canada’s Hindu population.

Just over three in four Sikhs in Canada live in Ontario or British Columbia

Canada’s Sikh community celebrates Bandi Chhor Divas Day, which coincides with Diwali. Sikhism is Canada’s third largest non-Christian religion following Islam and Hinduism, with 771,790 reporting Sikh as their religion during the 2021 Census.

Just over three in four (76.6%) Sikhs living in Canada in 2021 called Ontario (300,435 people) or British Columbia (290,870) home.

In the remaining eight provinces, the Sikh population ranged from 103,600 people in Alberta to 850 people in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In the spring of 2021, 505 Sikhs were living in the territories, with most in Yukon (385 people).

The day after Diwali marks the beginning of the Jain new year

Diwali holds a special place for many of Canada’s Jain community, which numbered 8,275 at the time of the 2021 Census. In Jain tradition, Diwali is observed as Mahavira Nirvana Diwas, and the following day marks the beginning of the new year in Jainism.

There were Jains in every province in 2021, ranging from 6,165 in Ontario to 10 in Newfoundland and Labrador.

At the time of the 2021 Census of Population, three in five Jains were living in Toronto.

There were no Jains living in the territories in 2021.

Don’t forget to “count your religion in” during the upcoming 2026 Census

Since 1871, the decennial Census of Population has included a question on religion that reflects a longstanding, continuing and widespread demand for information about religious affiliation and diversity in Canada.

While most Canadian households will receive a short form Census of Population questionnaire in the mail next May, which will take about 10 minutes to complete, approximately one in four households will be asked to fill out a longer form with 62 questions.

Question 30 on the long form deals with religion, asking “What is this person's religion?” The respondent is then asked to “Indicate a specific denomination or religion even if this person is not currently a practicing member of that group.”

Respondents are asked to specify one denomination or religion only, or to report “No religion”.

Governments, along with religious groups, denominations and associations across the country, commonly use information on religion. For example, religious leaders and organizations use this information to plan programs and to help determine where to build churches, synagogues, mosques and temples. Data on religion are also used to better understand the diversity of the country.