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. [100], Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas in remembrance of the release of Guru Hargobind from the Gwalior Fort prison by the Mughal emperor Jahangir and the day he arrived at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. 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 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. Diwali or Deepawali, known as the "festival of lights," is usually celebrated in October or November, and is on October 24 this year. Each day of the festival has special significance. 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. It is celebrated in October or November each year. In Bengal the goddess Kali is worshipped. [60] It is mentioned in the Ramayana that Diwali was celebrated for only 2 years in Ayodhya. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [140], This day ritually celebrates the bond between the wife and husband,[143] and in some Hindu communities, husbands will celebrate this with gifts to their wives. [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. [154][155][91], Diwali marks a major shopping period in India,[31] and is comparable to the Christmas period in terms of consumer purchases and economic activity. Today it is the "festival of lights," attached to various mythological stories, particularly tales about Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. [28][29][30], Diwali is also a major cultural event for the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain diaspora. The dates change each year because they are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but it typically happens in October and November. Das, Subhamoy. Diwali festivities usually last for 5 days. For the Jain community, the festival commemorates the enlightenment and liberation (moksha) of Mahavira, the most recent of the Jain Tirthankaras, from the cycle of life and death (samsara). [20], The festival is an annual homecoming and bonding period not only for families,[17][18] but also for communities and associations, particularly those in urban areas, which will organise activities, events and gatherings. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue was founded as Secretariat for non-Christians by Pope Paul VI. [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. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? All the days except Diwali are named using the designation in the Indian calendar. However, the focus of the Jain Diwali remains the dedication to Mahavira. [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. [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. He has written several books about Hinduism for children and young adults. While Diwali spans five days, the holiday reaches its peak on day three this year, falling on Oct. 24, 2022. Diwali was not a public holiday in Pakistan from 1947 to 2016. [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. 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. 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. [91] The telling of these myths are reminiscent of the Hindu belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil. In 2019, Diwali started on October 25 as reported by The Fact. There are many stories around the celebration of Diwali. Lasting over five days, the holiday is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs worldwide. This year, it begins in the first week of November from 2nd-6th. These lamps symbolize the light of inner spirituality that protects us from the spiritual darkness that threatens to engulf us. [31][32][33] The main day of the festival of Diwali (the day of Lakshmi Puja) is an official holiday in Fiji,[34] Guyana,[35] India, Malaysia,[a][36] Mauritius, Myanmar,[37] Nepal,[38] Pakistan,[39] Singapore,[40] Sri Lanka, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. The first day, November 2, is Dhanteras. It also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. The Hindu calendar is based on both the sun and moon (while the Gregorian calendar is only based on the sun). Earlier in the season's fortnight, some welcome the souls of their ancestors to join the family for the festivities with the Mahalaya. Learn Religions. The word "avali" means row and "deepa . Diwali is a five-day religious festival. 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 . It is well preserved on the north wall of the second. Sainsbury's bans fireworks across . When is Diwali? 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. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . Diwali, like many other Indian holidays, is based on the Indian lunar calendar, so the (internationally used) date of the festival changes each year, but it typically falls between mid-October and early November. Updates? Firecrackers also cause light pollution. How is Diwali celebrated? It is commemorated on the 15th day of Kartik, the Hindu calendar's holiest month. According to Truschke, Aurangzeb did so because he found the festivals "distasteful" and also from "concerns with public safety" lurking in the background. Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is the Hindu festival of lights. Each day of Diwali is marked differently. [48] The festivities begin two days before amvasy, on Dhanteras, and extend two days after, until the second (or 17th) day of the month of Kartik. It began sending official greetings and message to Muslims in 1967 on. Diwali is also known as Deepavali, Dipavali, Dewali, Deepawali, or the Festival of Lights. The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. It takes place on November 26 this year. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi Devi is worshipped on this day and it is customary to purchase precious articles. 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. 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. They also spend time with family and friends to enjoy good food and fireworks. [168], Diwali has increasingly attracted cultural exchanges, becoming occasions for politicians and religious leaders worldwide to meet Hindu or Indian origin citizens, diplomatic staff or neighbours. "[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. [123], This day is commonly celebrated as Diwali in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka. In 2022, Diwali will begin on October 22, and end on October 26. The Lacshmipuja dipanwita, remarked Jones, was a "great festival at night, in honour of Lakshmi, with illuminations on trees and houses".[68][f]. amnta / primnta. This is done via a bathing ritual called Abhyanga Snan. The legislation will come into effect next year, and Diwali will replace Anniversary Day, which is also known as Brooklyn-Queens Day, so that schools can still deliver the 180-day requirement of . Diwali 2023: 12 th of November, Sunday [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. [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. A 2017 estimate states 50,000 tons (100million pounds) of fireworks are exploded annually in India over the Diwali festival. Choti Diwali is the major shopping day for festive, Annakut community meals (left), Krishna holding, A sister ritually feeding her brother on Bhai Duj-Diwali, Dhanteras, Dhanatrayodashi, Yama Deepam (Day 1), Naraka Chaturdashi, Kali Chaudas, Chhoti Diwali, Hanuman Puja, Roop Chaudas, Yama Deepam (Day 2), Annakut, Balipratipada (Padwa), Govardhan Puja (Day 4), Bhai Duj, Bhau-Beej, Vishwakarma Puja (Day 5). [185] When these compounds pollute the air, they increase the risk of cancer in people. To produce colors when crackers are burst, carcinogenic and poisonous elements are used. Diwali or Deepavali - "The festival of lights" is one of the most important festivals for Hindus. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. 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. [23] Another aspect of the festival is remembering the ancestors. The Vishwakarma puja day is alternatively observed in other Hindu communities in accordance with the Hindu solar calendar, and this falls in September. Diwali falls on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik, which is the new moon day of the first month of the lunar year. Diwali (English: /dwli/), Dewali, Divali,[3] or Deepavali (IAST: dpval), also known as the Festival of Lights,[4][5] related to Jain Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti, Sohrai, and Bandna, is a religious[6] celebration in Indian religions. In India, the holiday always falls on the 15th of Kartik, the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar . The meaning of Diwaliand its many legends Diwali is so widely. The third day is the day of Lakshmi Puja and the darkest night of the traditional month. iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath What Do People Do? Learn Religions, Oct. 12, 2021, learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426. A diya that is filled with sesame oil is lit at back of their homes facing in the southern direction. Diwali is the biggest holiday of the year in India. [110] Some regions of India start Diwali festivities the day before Dhanteras with Govatsa Dwadashi. Diwali is celebrated for five days, each with its own special significance. 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]. This is followed by Choti Diwali the next day and Diwali on November 4. One of the earliest reports on this variation was by Wilson in 1847. [m] Contemporary Bengali celebrations mirror those found elsewhere, with teenage boys playing with fireworks and the sharing of festive food with family, but with the Shakti goddess Kali as the focus. This year's festival begins on Oct. 22. [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. 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. 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. This year (2021), Diwali begins on Tuesday 2 November, with the peak day of celebrations happening on the third day, Thursday 4 November. The festival isn't celebrated in Kerala though. Small business owners give gifts or special bonus payments to their employees between Dhanteras and Lakshmi Pujan. Homes are decorated, and floors inside and out are covered with rangoli, consisting of elaborate designs made of colouredrice, sand, or flower petals. [114], According to Tracy Pintchman, Dhanteras is a symbol of annual renewal, cleansing and an auspicious beginning for the next year. However, in South India, the festival is observed as the defeat of Narakasura. In 2022, Diwali falls on October 24th which is a new moon day or Amavasya. [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. [77][78][i], The religious significance of Diwali varies regionally within India. [184], During Diwali, the levels of suspended particulate matter increase. On this day, sisters will give gifts to their brothers and invite them to enjoy a meal. [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". The Diwali night's lights and firecrackers, in this interpretation, represent a celebratory and symbolic farewell to the departed ancestral souls. Make sure you check the dates online if you plan on visiting India during Diwali. [43], The artisan Hindu and Sikh community celebrates the fourth day as the Vishwakarma puja day. This day marks the beginning of deepawali celebrations. According to Audrey Truschke, the Sunni Muslim emperor Aurangzeb did limit "public observation" of many religious holidays such as Hindu Diwali and Holi, but also of Shia observance of Muharram and the Persian holiday of Nauruz. Sikhs historically referred to this festival as Diwali.
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