Diwali (India)

Diwali illuminates the subcontinent with over 600 million oil lamps lit on the third day, making it India’s most widely observed festival across five days. The celebration costs the average family $200 on fireworks and sweets, surpassing Rio Carnival’s per-capita visitor spend by nearly 20%. This festival draws 800 million participants globally, outweighing #3 Día de los Muertos’ 10 million. The light display alone uses 30% more lamps than the typical cultural festival worldwide.