Final answer:
The claim that Diwali is an important Buddhist holiday is false. Diwali is a major Hindu festival, not traditionally celebrated within Buddhism, where holidays like Vesak hold significance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Diwali is an important Buddhist holiday is false. Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is primarily a Hindu festival. It is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in Hinduism and is associated with a range of stories and meanings, one of which is the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. In addition to Hindus, Diwali is also celebrated by Jains and Sikhs, each adding their own history and significance to the festival.
Buddhism, a religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, does have its own set of holidays and festivals, which differ from those in Hinduism. While the Buddhist holiday of Vesak, for example, celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, Diwali is not traditionally a part of the Buddhist religious calendar. Rather, it is the Hindus that have a host of holidays and participate in ritual practices such as cremation and pilgrimages, the most famous of which is to the Ganges River in Varanasi.