Diwali Decor. iStock.com/triloks What Do People Do? What is Diwali? According to a Government of Himachal Pradesh and India publication, the Vishvakarma puja is observed on the fourth day of Diwali in the Himalayan state. In India, the holiday always falls on the 15th of Kartik, the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar . The devotion and dedication of Hanuman pleased Rama so much that he blessed Hanuman to be worshipped before him. each day of the five-day Diwali comes with a different set of traditions. On that day sisters pray for the success and well-being of their brothers. [167] In 2020, the INDF ETF was launched to mark the start of Diwali. Ubtan is applied by the women which is made up of special gram flour mixed with herbs for cleansing and beautifying themselves. Diwali is generally a time for visiting, exchanging gifts, wearing new clothes, feasting, feeding the poor, and setting off fireworks (though such displays have been restricted to limit noise and other environmental pollution). It is determined by the Indian calendar and the dates of celebration change every year. It . Diwali is also celebrated to mark the return of Rama to Ayodhya after defeating the demon-king Ravana and completing his fourteen years of exile. [147] In historic times, this was a day in autumn when brothers would travel to meet their sisters, or invite their sister's family to their village to celebrate their sister-brother bond with the bounty of seasonal harvests. Holi Dates: When is Holi in 2021, 2022 and 2023? Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue was founded as Secretariat for non-Christians by Pope Paul VI. As an auspicious occasion, many Hindus will make big purchases as it's believed that this will bring good luck. The names and events of the individual days of Diwali are as follows: The first day, known as Dhanteras, is dedicated to cleaning homes and purchasing small items of gold. Diwali for the year 2022 is observed on 24 October, which falls on a Monday. [140] It is regionally called Annakut (heap of grain), Padwa, Goverdhan puja, Bali Pratipada, Bali Padyami, Kartik Shukla Pratipada and other names. [86][87], Trade and merchant families and others also offer prayers to Saraswati, who embodies music, literature and learning and Kubera, who symbolises book-keeping, treasury and wealth management. Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is the Hindu festival of lights. [43], The artisan Hindu and Sikh community celebrates the fourth day as the Vishwakarma puja day. The festival of Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom after defeating Ravana. To produce colors when crackers are burst, carcinogenic and poisonous elements are used. The celebration will include dancing, a fashion show and other performances, as well as free food. Grewal, a scholar of Sikhism and Sikh history, Diwali in the Sikh tradition is older than the sixth Guru Hargobind legend. Illustrative Islamic records, states Stephen Blake, include those of 16th-century Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi who wrote, "during Diwali. the ignorant ones amongst Muslims, particularly women, perform the ceremonies they celebrate it like their own Id and send presents to their daughters and sisters,. they attach much importance and weight to this season [of Diwali]. Dates for 2020 to 2025." Bhalla said the dates change each year based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but typically happens in October and November. These purchases are often gold and silver items or new utensils. [70][71][g] Examples include a 10th-century Rashtrakuta empire copper plate inscription of Krishna III (939967 CE) that mentions Dipotsava,[72] and a 12th-century mixed Sanskrit-Kannada Sinda inscription discovered in the Isvara temple of Dharwad in Karnataka where the inscription refers to the festival as a "sacred occasion". Facts about Diwali 1) Diwali is an important religious festival originating in India. Where does Diwali get its name? The date of the five day festival changes every year in accordance with the Hindu and lunar calendar. [43] In western states such as Gujarat, and certain northern Hindu communities of India, the festival of Diwali signifies the start of a new year. Diwali, also spelled Divali, one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, lasting for five days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina to the second day of the light half of the lunar month Karttika. The festival isn't celebrated in Kerala though. [102] The festival of Diwali, according to Ray Colledge, highlights three events in Sikh history: the founding of the city of Amritsar in 1577, the release of Guru Hargobind from the Mughal prison, and the day of Bhai Mani Singh's martyrdom in 1738 as a result of his failure to pay a fine for trying to celebrate Diwali and thereafter refusing to convert to Islam. UCF's Indian Student Association (ISA) will host Diwali event at the Hindu Society of Central Florida Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. [120] The term "chhoti" means little, while "Naraka" means hell and "Chaturdashi" means "fourteenth". [122] A mythological interpretation of this festive day is the destruction of the asura (demon) Narakasura by Krishna, a victory that frees 16,000 imprisoned princesses kidnapped by Narakasura. . [135][61] While the cleaning, or painting, of the home is in part for goddess Lakshmi, it also signifies the ritual "reenactment of the cleansing, purifying action of the monsoon rains" that would have concluded in most of the Indian subcontinent. Diwali as a new-moon day, marks the last day of a 15-day period. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. These lamps symbolize the light of inner spirituality that protects us from the spiritual darkness that threatens to engulf us. Shiva surrenders his shirt and adornments to her, rendering him naked. [59][60] The 16th-century Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes wrote of his visit to the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire, where Dipavali was celebrated in October with householders illuminating their homes, and their temples, with lamps. Das, Subhamoy. The Catholic dicastery Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, founded as Secretariat for non-Christians by Pope Paul VI, began sending official greetings and the Pope's message to the Hindus on Diwali in the mid-1990s. Learn about Diwali, when it occurs, and common traditions! [4] Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Newar Buddhists,[29] although for each faith it marks different historical events and stories, but nonetheless the festival represents the same symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. It is commemorated on the 15th day of Kartik, the Hindu calendar's holiest month. Amavasya is thought of as the darkest night of the year and is holy to Hindus. They install diyas, small earthen oil-filled lamps that they light up for the next five days, near Lakshmi and Ganesha iconography. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Diwali celebrates Rama's eventual defeat of the evil spirit Ravana, and his triumphant return to his home. The word Deepawali comes from the Sanskrit word deep, which means an Indian lantern/lamp. The darkest night is the apex of the celebration and coincides with the second half of October or early November in the Gregorian calendar. Diwali is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Every year on the darkest night in the northern hemisphere, millions illuminate their homes and streets to celebrate the victory of good over evil. This is why dates change every year. Diwali, which is celebrated on different dates each year as it follows the lunar calendar, will begin on October 24 this year and last for five days. [12][114] Families also prepare homemade delicacies for Lakshmi Pujan, regarded as the main day of Diwali. [43][55], Emperor Harsha refers to Deepavali, in the 7th-century Sanskrit play Nagananda, as Dpapratipadotsava (dpa = light, pratipad = first day, utsava = festival), where lamps were lit and newly engaged brides and grooms received gifts. The Prayer Hymn (Aarti) for the Hindu Diwali Celebration, The Real Reason for the Hindu Raksha Bandhan Celebration, Hindu Calendar: Days, Months, Years and Epochs, Fasting, Praying, and Regular Hindu Rituals. [86], Mythical tales shared on Diwali vary widely depending on region and even within Hindu tradition,[88] yet all share a common focus on righteousness, self-inquiry and the importance of knowledge,[89][90] which, according to Lindsey Harlan, an Indologist and scholar of Religious Studies, is the path to overcoming the "darkness of ignorance". [186], (federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to a specific racial/ethnic group or sexual minority, (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) = Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies. [23] Another aspect of the festival is remembering the ancestors. They also spend time with family and friends to enjoy good food and fireworks. We usually plan for our parents to visit us during this period but the pandemic has made it difficult this year for everyone. [92][12], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali has transcended religious lines. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Diwali is the biggest holiday of the year in India. In 2021, Diwali is on November 4. [114], According to Tracy Pintchman, Dhanteras is a symbol of annual renewal, cleansing and an auspicious beginning for the next year. A variety of entertainments are usually available for inhabitants of the local community to enjoy. A few, notably the Mughal emperor Akbar, welcomed and participated in the festivities,[62][63] whereas others banned such festivals as Diwali and Holi, as Aurangzeb did in 1665. In 2022, the five days of Diwali begin on October 22, with the most important festival date taking place on October 24. Earlier in the season's fortnight, some welcome the souls of their ancestors to join the family for the festivities with the Mahalaya. Every year Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains around the world celebrate the Indian Festival of Lights called Diwali. The exact date changes every year because the Hindu calendar is lunar. It also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. [159][160] According to Rao, Diwali is one of the major festivals where rural Indians spend a significant portion of their annual income, and is a means for them to renew their relationships and social networks. In North India the festival also celebrates the royal homecoming of Rama (along with Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman) to the city of Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the 10-headed king of the demons, thus connecting the festival with the holiday of Dussehra. Diwali/Deepavali is a public holiday. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and an even deeper meaning is to drive away our inner darkness with light. [73] According to Lorenz Franz Kielhorn, a German Indologist known for translating many Indic inscriptions, this festival is mentioned as Dipotsavam in verses 6 and 7 of the Ranganatha temple Sanskrit inscription of the 13th-century Kerala Hindu king Ravivarman Samgramadhira. Fireworks are often set off in the evening to celebrate Diwali. The Jain Diwali celebrated in many parts of India has similar practices to the Hindu Diwali, such as the lighting of lamps and the offering of prayers to Lakshmi. [108] During Diwali, people wear their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with saaki (earthen lamp), diyas and rangoli, perform worship ceremonies of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth,[l] light fireworks, and partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared. Each day of the festival has special significance. Diwali symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426 (accessed March 4, 2023). [95] According to the Jain tradition, this practice of lighting lamps first began on the day of Mahavira's nirvana in 527 BCE,[j] when 18 kings who had gathered for Mahavira's final teachings issued a proclamation that lamps be lit in remembrance of the "great light, Mahavira". Diwali is usually celebrated twenty days after the Vijayadashami festival, with Dhanteras, or the regional equivalent, marking the first day of the festival when celebrants prepare by cleaning their homes and making decorations on the floor, such as rangolis. [165] About two-thirds of Indian households, according to the ASSOCHAM forecast, would spend between 5,000 (US$63) and 10,000 (US$130) to celebrate Diwali in 2017. Among Hindus the most widespread customis the lighting of diyas (small earthenware lamps filled with oil) on the night of the new moon to invite the presence of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. This year, Diwali or Deepavali will take place on October 24. [68] In his paper on The Lunar Year of the Hindus, Jones, then based in Bengal, noted four of the five days of Diwali in the autumn months of Aswina-Cartica [sic] as the following: Bhutachaturdasi Yamaterpanam (2nd day), Lacshmipuja dipanwita (the day of Diwali), Dyuta pratipat Belipuja (4th day), and Bhratri dwitiya (5th day). In his 11th-century memoir on India, the Persian traveler and historian Al Biruni wrote of Deepavali being celebrated by Hindus on the day of the New Moon in the month of Kartika. Spiritually, Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The day of Diwali itself falls on November 4.. A lunar half-month is 15 days. The festivities vary between different regions. The reason Diwali's celebration date is different each year is that each of the Hindu calendarsthere are severalis lunisolar, meaning they take into effect both the movements of the sun and the moon. It's believed that on this day the Goddess Lakshmi, often associated with wealth, abundance and good fortune, visits people's homes and fulfils their desires. The Prime Minister Jawaharlal . Shopkeepers and small operations perform puja rituals in their office premises. However you celebrate Diwali, Denver's growing Indian food scene offers a rich culinary experience for those who enjoy fresh ingredients, diverse textures, and complex combinations of spices from the South Asian subcontinent. For planning purposes, here are the dates for the main celebrations for Diwali for the next few years: The date to celebrate Diwali generally changes by a week to 10 days every year. Some 200,000 New Yorkers celebrate Diwali each year, per state Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar . [47][b], The five-day celebration is observed every year in early autumn after the conclusion of the summer harvest. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. [24], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali is now also celebrated by other faiths. As the term "Festival of Lights" suggests, the celebration involves millions of lights illuminated from rooftops, doorways, and windows in thousands of temples and buildings all over the countries where the festival is observed. The dates of Diwali change every year as it dependent on the moon cycle. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. But when Diwali occurs in the calendar changes every year. [50] It is a time when families come together, friends are reunited and everyone celebrates the triumph of good over evil. [143] According to Kinsley, the ritual use of cow dung, a common fertiliser, is an agricultural motif and a celebration of its significance to annual crop cycles. It's the holiday season and Diwali is around the corner. Historical records appear inconsistent about the name of the lunar month in which Diwali is observed. These clay lamps represent "the inner light that protects each household from spiritual darkness." While each day of Diwali has its own importance, on the third day of Diwali, this year on Oct. 24, people gather at temples to honor the goddess Lakshmi. [134], On the night of Diwali, rituals across much of India are dedicated to Lakshmi to welcome her into their cleaned homes and bring prosperity and happiness for the coming year. "[74][h], Jain inscriptions, such as the 10th-century Saundatti inscription about a donation of oil to Jinendra worship for the Diwali rituals, speak of Dipotsava. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Diwali festivities usually last for 5 days. For other uses, see, Indoor Diwali decorations in front of an altar, Line of lamps at Bedara Kannappa temple, Mysore, Diyas lit for Diwali at Golden Temple, Punjab, Decorative lights for Diwali on a house in Haryana. Large government-sponsored festivals are held in London, Sydney, Toronto, and Edinburgh, and they are often a showcase for Indian culture, music, dance, fashion, food, crafts, and fireworks. Make sure you check the dates online if you plan on visiting India during Diwali. (2021, October 12). This year, the biggest day of festivities (Lakshmi Puja) will take place on November 4, 2021. It takes place on November 26 this year. Diwali always falls some time between October and November, but the exact date varies each year as the Hindu calendar is based on the Moon. DIWALI. Cook, Sharell. [116], On Yama Deepam (also known as Yama Dipadana or Jam ke Diya), Hindus light a diya, ideally made of wheat flour and filled with sesame oil, that faces south in the back of their homes.
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