New Delhi

It’s for the first time, Diwali, the festival of lights associated with the Hindu religion, will be celebrated on the campus of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh, a University set up by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to popularise modern education among Muslims.

This became clear after the AMU administration granted formal permission for the Diwali celebrations to the student bodies, making it clear that the institution respects all religions and communities.

The AMU Proctor, Professor Waseem Ali, had clarified that there was no ban on the celebration of Diwali or any other festival.

📍HISTORIC! For the first time ever, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has allowed Hindu students to celebrate Diwali on campus 🪔

👉 The AMU administration has granted permission for a Deepotsav inside the NCC Club on October 19 🔥 pic.twitter.com/o4qEifBUu0

— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) October 18, 2025

The controversy arose when students asked for permission to celebrate the festival on a ground and the authorities sought time to clear it and requested the students to defer the celebration by a day or two.

This led to protests and an online campaign against the university, with students alleging the AMU authorities were not permitting the celebration of Hindu festivals on its campus.

The authorities quickly reacted and offered permission for celebrations to thwart attempts by the students to drag AMU into controversies.

This issue took a new turn when a Mass Communication student, Akhil Kaushal, wrote to the Vice Chancellor, requesting permission to hold a Diwali celebration on the grounds near the NCC on 18 October.

Although the university administration did not impose restrictions on celebrations, they thought cleaning the venue would take time and therefore, celebrations on 17 October looked impossible.

It asked students to hold the event a day or two later.

Meanwhile, some students threatened to celebrate Diwali at the main gate of AMU, Bab-e-Syed, if permission was not granted.

The AMU administration finally granted formal permission for the Diwali celebrations, making it clear that the institution respects all religions and communities.

This development also reminds us of the controversy that erupted before the Holi celebrations in March 2025. At that time, the AMU administration was accused of being insensitive towards Hindu festivals, but after dialogue, Holi was celebrated for the first time on campus.

AMU was set up as a minority institution. However, this status is under review by the Supreme Court of India. 

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The permission to celebrate Diwali, is this a message that the institute is taking the Indian spirit of unity in diversity seriously.