The festival isn't celebrated in Kerala though. Diwali along with Holi for Hindus, and Easter for Christians, was adopted as public holiday resolution by Pakistan's parliament in 2016, giving the local governments and public institutions the right to declare Holi as a holiday and grant leave for its minority communities, for the first time. It is in fact the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksh, the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik. During the festival, diyas are lit and placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams. Also known as the festival of lights, it's celebrated by Sikhs, Hindus, Jains and some Buddhists. All About Diwali 2022: When & How to Celebrate | CompareRemit This year, it begins in the first week of November from 2nd-6th. [43][82] Along with Lakshmi, who is representative of Vaishnavism, Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Parvati and Shiva of Shaivism tradition, is remembered as one who symbolises ethical beginnings and the remover of obstacles. Diwali is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartika and, much like Easter, the date changes every year. These lamps symbolize the light of inner spirituality that protects us from the spiritual darkness that threatens to engulf us. It is celebrated in India and other countries such as Nepal, Malaysia, Fiji, and Mauritius. It is determined by the Indian calendar and the dates of celebration change every year. Diwali, also known as Deepavali, falls on 4 November this year. [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. People often think of Diwali as a Hindu festival, but it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains . Subhamoy Das is the co-author of "Applied Hinduism: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World." 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. [151], During the season of Diwali, numerous rural townships and villages host melas,[152] or fairs, where local producers and artisans trade produce and goods. Scholars contest the 527 BCE date and consider Mahavira's biographical details as uncertain. Diwali, Divali, Deepavali: How you celebrated the festival of lights Diwali is celebrated for almost five days consecutively. [141][142] In another interpretation, it is thought to reference the legend of Parvati and her husband Shiva playing a game of dyuta (dice) on a board of twelve squares and thirty pieces, Parvati wins. This year (2021), Diwali begins on Tuesday 2 November, with the peak day of celebrations happening on the third day, Thursday 4 November. The dates of Diwali change every year, though the five day festival generally falls between late October and early November. They install diyas, small earthen oil-filled lamps that they light up for the next five days, near Lakshmi and Ganesha iconography. Diwali Decor. The festival typically lasts for four to five days and coincides with the new moon on the Hindu lunisolar calendar,. The exact dates change each year because it follows the lunar calendar, but it is typically celebrated in October or November over a 5-day span: On day. The women, in particular, adorn themselves in colourful attire and decorate their hands with henna. It is commemorated on the 15th day of Kartik, the Hindu calendar's holiest month. The darkest night is the apex of the celebration and coincides with the second half of October or early November in the Gregorian calendar. Holi Dates: When is Holi in 2021, 2022 and 2023? [50] It is mentioned in mentioned in early Sanskrit texts, such as the Padma Purana and the Skanda Purana, both of which were completed in the second half of the 1st millennium CE. Earlier in the season's fortnight, some welcome the souls of their ancestors to join the family for the festivities with the Mahalaya. Diwali 2023: 12 th of November, Sunday Gambling, especially in the form of card games, is encouraged as a way of ensuring good luck in the coming year and in remembrance of the games of dice played by Shiva and Parvati on Mount Kailasa or similar contests between Radha and Krishna. [92][12], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali has transcended religious lines. 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. Bhalla said the dates change each year based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but typically happens in October and November. Each day has a different name and rituals. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. One of the earliest reports on this variation was by Wilson in 1847. Corrections? The first day, November 2, is Dhanteras. Every year on the darkest night in the northern hemisphere, millions illuminate their homes and streets to celebrate the victory of good over evil. The festival of Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom after defeating Ravana. The dates change each year because they are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but it typically happens in October and November. The festival falls sometime between October and November. The Prime Minister Jawaharlal . Since the 18th century, Diwali has been celebrated in Sikhism as the time of Guru Hargobinds return to Amritsar from captivity in Gwalioran echo of Ramas return to Ayodhya. Over time, these spring and autumn festivals became the most important of Sikh festivals and holy sites such as Amritsar became focal points for annual pilgrimages. [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. Sharell Cook lives in Mumbai full-time and writes about India travel. Diwali - Wikipedia "There were a hundred-plus of us at my cousin's house each year," she explains. The final day is Bhai Dooj and similarly, celebrates the bonds between brothers and sisters. [181][182], The use of firecrackers on Diwali increases the concentration of dust and pollutants in the air. Diwali is celebrated every year in either October or November, based on the lunar cycle. The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. Diwali Dates for 2022 to 2040 | Diwali Calender - TheHolidaySpot.com During the festival, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs illuminate their homes, temples and workspaces with diyas (oil lamps), candles and lanterns[16] Hindus, in particular, have a ritual oil bath at dawn on each day of the festival. Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of Kartik which is considered as the most serene months according to the Hindu Lunar calendar. [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. Diwali is an important festival in Jainism. Diaspora, Identity, and Festivalization, The Festival of 'Deepavali' as Marks of Tradition and Identity for Working, Married Hindu Women: Continuity and Change, Celebrations as Social Investments: Festival Expenditures, Unit Price Variation, and Social Status in Rural India, M.A., English Literature, University of North Bengal. [81], Many Hindus associate the festival with Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and wife of Vishnu. What Is Diwali and How Do You Celebrate Hindu Festival of Lights? Find out all about the history, traditions and significance of Diwali in this blogpost. In 2013, about 25 billion (US$310million) of fireworks were sold to merchants for the Diwali season, an equivalent retail value of about 50 billion (US$630million) according to The Times of India. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. DIWALI - Changes Annually - National Day Calendar Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The Lacshmipuja dipanwita, remarked Jones, was a "great festival at night, in honour of Lakshmi, with illuminations on trees and houses".[68][f]. [107] According to some observers, this traditional celebration by Newar Buddhists in Nepal, through the worship of Lakshmi and Vishnu during Diwali, is not syncretism but rather a reflection of the freedom within Mahayana Buddhist tradition to worship any deity for their worldly betterment.[29]. Diwali is for mere mortals; Dev Deepawali is the festival of the gods. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. [15][131][132] After the puja, people go outside and celebrate by lighting up patakhe (fireworks) together, and then share a family feast and mithai (sweets, desserts). Furthermore, when specifying the masa, one of two traditions are applicable, viz. Because Diwali is such a meaningful celebration, festivities are often planned years in advance. One tradition starts a new month from the new moon, while the other starts it from the full moon. Ths festival of lights, i.e. Diwali is also known as Deepavali, Dipavali, Dewali, Deepawali, or the Festival of Lights. This festive day is interpreted by some to symbolise Yama's sister Yamuna welcoming Yama with a tilaka, while others interpret it as the arrival of Krishna at his sister Subhadra's place after defeating Narakasura. People illuminate their homes, temples and offices with diyas, candles and lanterns. [173], Diwali was first celebrated in the White House by George W. Bush in 2003 and its religious and historical significance was officially recognized by the United States Congress in 2007. All the days except Diwali are named using the designation in the Indian calendar. The festival climax is on the third day and is called the main Diwali. [121] It is also celebrated as Roop Chaudas in some North Indian households, where women bathe before sunrise, while lighting a Diya (lamp) in the bath area, they believe it helps enhance their beauty it is a fun ritual that young girls enjoy as part of festivities. This is the day when Hindu, Jain and Sikh temples and homes are aglow with lights, thereby making it the "festival of lights". It is believed that spirits roam around on the night of Kali Chaudas, and Hanuman, who is the deity of strength, power, and protection, is worshipped to seek protection from the spirits. [21][22] Many towns organise community parades and fairs with parades or music and dance performances in parks. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. It's a one-day celebration, known as Deepavali, that usually falls a day before the main Diwali date but sometimes occurs on the same day (when the lunar days overlap). "[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. Make sure you check the dates online if you plan on visiting India during Diwali. Hit ctrl+D to bookmark this page, and share this page with your friends. Omissions? Diwali 2023 dates | When Is Diwali/ Deepawali in 2023? The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . Typically the holiday falls in October or November, as it's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holy month of the Hindu lunar calendar . Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi Devi is worshipped on this day and it is customary to purchase precious articles. Where does Diwali get its name? This time the revered festival of Diwali is to be held on the month of October 24, 2022. Happy Diwali Festival 2021: its meaning and traditional Diwali food New York City makes Diwali public school holiday from 2023 These two festivals likely developed in tandem over their recent histories, states McDermott. It is traditionally a puja, or a celebration that worships, honors, and shows devotion to the divine. The second day, called NarakaChaturdashiorChotiDiwali, commemorates Krishnas destruction of Narakasura; prayers are also offered for the souls of ancestors. Diwali is one of the most revered and a pious festival deeply entrenched in Hindu culture. It began sending official greetings and message to Muslims in 1967 on. [115][144][145], The agricultural symbolism is also observed on this day by many Hindus as Annakut, literally "mountain of food". This festival gets its name from "Deepa" meaning "Light" and "Avali" meaning "Row". Some Hindu communities mark the last day as Bhai Dooj or the regional equivalent, which is dedicated to the bond between sister and brother,[111] while other Hindu and Sikh craftsmen communities mark this day as Vishwakarma Puja and observe it by performing maintenance in their work spaces and offering prayers. Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated religious festivals worldwide, it takes place every year between October and November and it commemorates the spiritual victory of light over darkness. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. This year it was from November 5th-9th and in 2019 it will be October 25-29th. The festival usually falls between mid-October and mid-November. [162][q] ASSOCHAM, a trade organisation in India, forecasted that online shopping alone to be over 300 billion (US$3.8billion) over the 2017 Diwali season. According to Pintchman, in some Hindu traditions the women recite tales where sisters protect their brothers from enemies that seek to cause him either bodily or spiritual harm. It's associated with Lord Ram's return to his kingdom in Ayodhya after exile and rescuing his wife from demon king Ravan on Dussehra. [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. This legend is remembered through the ritual of building small mountain-like miniatures from cow dung. Amavasya Tithi on Diwali begins at. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and an even deeper meaning is to drive away our inner darkness with light. Diwali was celebrated as a signifier of triumph of good over evil after Krishna's Victory over Narakasura. Subhadra welcomes him with a tilaka on his forehead. The fourth day, known as GoverdhanPuja,Balipratipada,or Annakut, commemorating Krishnas defeat of Indra, the king of the gods, is also the first day of Karttika and the start of the new year in the Vikrama (Hindu) calendar. Five Days of Diwali - Diwali 5 Days, Diwalifestival.org They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha. In 2021, Diwali is on November 4. Diwali 2021: What is Diwali? Who celebrates the 'Festival of Light [140] According to Handelman and Shulman, as quoted by Pintchman, this legend is a Hindu metaphor for the cosmic process for creation and dissolution of the world through the masculine destructive power, as represented by Shiva, and the feminine procreative power, represented by Parvati, where twelve reflects the number of months in the cyclic year, while thirty are the number of days in its lunisolar month. Importance of Diwali Festival and Its Significance | About Diwali Hindus celebrate Diwali. 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. It is a time when families come together, friends are reunited and everyone celebrates the triumph of good over evil. The name of this festival is derived from 'avali,' which means 'row,' and 'deepa,' meaning "clay lamps." The height of Diwali is celebrated on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of Ashvin or Kartika. It's been 11 years since we celebrated Diwali at our family homes back in India, but that will never stop us from feeling at home, celebrating traditions, and embracing it. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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. Why do Hindu festivals fall on different dates every year? In some communities, husbands will give gifts to their wives, while in others parents with newly married children invite them and their spouses to enjoy a meal and receive gifts. The day before Diwali is remembered as Naraka Chaturdasi, the day on which Narakasura was killed by Krishna. [12] Chhoti Diwali is also a day for visiting friends, business associates and relatives, and exchanging gifts. Small business owners give gifts or special bonus payments to their employees between Dhanteras and Lakshmi Pujan. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. The festivals and . [91] The telling of these myths are reminiscent of the Hindu belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil. This year, the biggest day of festivities (Lakshmi Puja) will take place on November 4, 2021. [109][133] According to Rachel Fell McDermott, a scholar of South Asian, particular Bengali, studies, in Bengal during Navaratri (Dussehra elsewhere in India) the Durga puja is the main focus, although in the eastern and north eastern states the two are synonymous, but on Diwali the focus is on the puja dedicated to Kali. Iff a festival falls in the waning phase of the moon, these two traditions identify the same lunar day as falling in two different (but successive) masa. Next year (2024) November 1 (Friday) Last year (2022) October 24 (Monday) This holiday gets its name from the rows of clay lamps that Indians light just outside their houses. 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. Hindus celebrating Diwali in India. Diwali is observed on the day of Amavasya or the new moon and marks the start of the Hindu New Year. [41], Diwali (English: /dwli/)[9] or Divali[44] is from the Sanskrit dpvali meaning "row or series of lights". Because the festival of Diwali is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, the dates are different each year. For some Hindus, it is a day to pray for the peace to the manes, or defiled souls of one's ancestors and light their way for their journeys in the cyclic afterlife. [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). Diwali was not a public holiday in Pakistan from 1947 to 2016. 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. Diwali in 2023/2024 - When, Where, Why, How is Celebrated? We usually plan for our parents to visit us during this period but the pandemic has made it difficult this year for everyone. This year, Diwali 2022 begins on Monday, October 24, 2022 (24/10/2022), and finishes on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 (26/10/2022). In some months, a day needs to be dropped to correlate with a shorter lunar cycle. After firing, the fine dust particles get settled on the surrounding surfaces which are packed with chemicals like copper, zinc, sodium, lead, magnesium, cadmium and pollutants like oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. [117][118][119], The third day is the height of the festival,[126] and coincides with the last day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin or Kartik. ", Christopher H. Johnson, Simon Teuscher & David Warren Sabean 2011, India Journal: Tis the Season to be Shopping, Pakistan parliament adopts resolution for Holi, Diwali, Easter holidays, "The Svanti Festival: Victory over Death and the Renewal of the Ritual Cycle in Nepal", "Diwali Festival 2020 India:Date,Story,Celebration,Diwali Special Gift", "Krishna Killed Narakasur - The Narakasur Legend of Diwali - Diwali Legend", Diwali Celebrating the triumph of goodness, "2020 Yama Deepam date and timings for New Delhi, NCT, India", "The 'Yam-deep' or 'Jam ke Deeya' SWAHA International", "Significance of Yama Deepam on Diwali Eve", "Choti Diwali 2020 date: Kali Chaudas significance, when and how to celebrate", "2020 Hanuman Puja date and time during Diwali for New Delhi, NCT, India", If You Missed Diwali in India, Dallas Is the Place to Be, Manchester Dashehra and Diwali Mela plans announced, Festive season to boost India gold buying, India's banks face pre-Diwali cash crunch, Diwali lights up consumer spending, festive spirit beats inflation, Fear Of Toxic Smog Leads India To Limit Diwali Fireworks, Firework Facts: Americans Incinerate $1 Billion in July Fourth Fireworks Every Year, Oneline sales may surpass Rs 30000 crores in festive months, Average family to spend Rs.

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