[43] The lamps from the puja ceremony are then used to light more earthenware lamps, which are placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses,[130] while some diyas are set adrift on rivers and streams. However, in South India, the festival is observed as the defeat of Narakasura. Merchants perform religious ceremonies and open new account books. Diwali 2022: When is the festival of lights and how is it celebrated [91] The telling of these myths are reminiscent of the Hindu belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil. Diwali, Divali, Deepavali: How you celebrated the festival of lights The third day is Diwali and the height of the festival. [183] These invisible yet harmful particles affect the environment and in turn, put people's health at stake. The darkest night is the apex of the celebration and coincides with the second half of October or early November in the Gregorian calendar. [143][147], The day celebrates the sibling bond between brother and sister. [171][172] Since 2009, Diwali has been celebrated every year at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister. [7] The Jains observe their own Diwali which marks the final liberation of Mahavira,[25][26] the Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas to mark the release of Guru Hargobind from a Mughal prison. [83][84][85] Hindus from the Braj region in northern India, parts of Assam, as well as southern Tamil and Telugu communities view Diwali as the day the god Krishna overcame and destroyed the evil demon king Narakasura, in yet another symbolic victory of knowledge and good over ignorance and evil. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. These two festivals likely developed in tandem over their recent histories, states McDermott. While the dates vary annually based on the Hindu lunar calendar, Diwali usually occurs in October or November. The devotion and dedication of Hanuman pleased Rama so much that he blessed Hanuman to be worshipped before him. The Diwali-related inscription is the 4th inscription and it includes the year Vikrama Era 1268 (c. 1211 CE). 2. 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. [140] It is regionally called Annakut (heap of grain), Padwa, Goverdhan puja, Bali Pratipada, Bali Padyami, Kartik Shukla Pratipada and other names. The festival typically lasts for four to five days and coincides with the new moon on the Hindu lunisolar calendar,. Ubtan is applied by the women which is made up of special gram flour mixed with herbs for cleansing and beautifying themselves. The name of this festival is derived from 'avali,' which means 'row,' and 'deepa,' meaning "clay lamps." This year's festival begins on Oct. 22. Many participate in other socio-political events as a symbol of support for diversity and inclusiveness. In the lead-up to Diwali, celebrants prepare by cleaning, renovating, and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas (oil lamps) and rangolis (colorful art circle patterns). 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. [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). [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. 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. The dates for Diwali change each year, as they are based on the Hindu lunisolar calendar. ( See calendar ). 10 fabulous facts about Diwali! - National Geographic Kids As per India's official holiday calendar, Diwali in 2020 will be on Saturday, November 14, coinciding with the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. [125], Some Hindus observe Yama Deepam (also known as Yama Dipadana or Jam ke Diya) on the second day of Diwali, instead of the first day. Diwali is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartika and, much like Easter, the date changes every year. [64][65][d][e], Publications from the British colonial era also made mention of Diwali, such as the note on Hindu festivals published in 1799 by Sir William Jones, a philologist known for his early observations on Sanskrit and Indo-European languages. Each day of the festival has special significance. It takes place on November 26 this year. [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. Diwali is celebrated over five days in most of North India. When is Diwali 2022: What is Diwali, who celebrates it and how to wish Major celebrations occur on the third day of the five-day long festival . Because the festival of Diwali is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, the dates are different each year. What is Diwali and how is it celebrated? | BBC Good Food The Diwali festival actually runs for five days, with the main event happening on the third day in most places in India. [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). "[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. Diwali 2023: 12 th of November, Sunday Among Hindus the most widespread custom is 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. One particular firework called anar (fountain) has been found to be responsible for 65% of such injuries, with adults being the typical victims. A diya that is filled with sesame oil is lit at back of their homes facing in the southern direction. A Hindu devotee lights oil lamps at a temple during . [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. Sometimes these are wrapped with edible silver foil (vark). It is a day in which people rid themselves of evil and everything negative. On the third day, Lakshmi Puja, families seek blessings from Lakshmi to ensure their prosperity; light diyas, candles, and fireworks; andvisittemples. What is Diwali and how is it celebrated? - Real Word Diwali (Deepavali) Nov 27, 2023: Guru Nanak's Birthday: Dec 25, 2023: Christmas Day: Which are the other holidays in India? It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. Spread joy. The Hindu lunar calendar has two parts: dark (Krishna paksha, or "waning moon" in Sanskrit) and light (hukla paksha, or "waxing moon"), and the new moon (amavasya) always occurs in between the parts, typically on the 15th. 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. [116] Some communities, particularly those active in Ayurvedic and health-related professions, pray or perform havan rituals to Dhanvantari on Dhanteras. Diwali festivities usually last for 5 days. For Jains, it is a time to celebrate Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, and the moment reached a state of enlightenment. He explained that though the actual Hindu festival day is the same, it is identified differently in regional calendars because there are two traditions in the Hindu calendar. Sharell Cook lives in Mumbai full-time and writes about India travel. This year, the biggest day of festivities (Lakshmi Puja) will take place on November 4, 2021. Where does Diwali get its name? The five day festival falls in the first week of Novmber. Naraka Chaturdashi, also known as Chhoti Diwali, is the second day of festivities coinciding with the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin or Kartik. [27] Newar Buddhists, unlike other Buddhists, celebrate Diwali by worshipping Lakshmi, while the Hindus of Eastern India and Bangladesh generally celebrate Diwali by worshipping the goddess Kali. 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. Shiva surrenders his shirt and adornments to her, rendering him naked. Diwali 2021: When is the festival of lights and how is it celebrated When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Dates for 2020 to 2025 - Learn Religions [23][140] According to one tradition, the day is associated with the story of Bali's defeat at the hands of Vishnu. The incredible amount of fireworks and firecrackers set off during the five days of Diwali have become an issue in many Indian cities, to the point that ambient air and noise during Diwali are considered somewhat of a health hazard. [128][95], The day after Diwali is the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik. The day before Diwali is remembered as Naraka Chaturdasi, the day on which Narakasura was killed by Krishna. Every autumn, the observance sees millions of people attend. Here's how India is celebrating Diwali - NPR.org Jean Mead, How and why Do Hindus Celebrate Divali?, John Bowker, ed., Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions (Oxford UP, 2000), See Festivals, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, "2022 Diwali Puja Calendar, Deepavali Puja Calendar for New Delhi, NCT, India", "Diwali 2020 Date in India: When is Diwali in 2020? [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. [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. A variety of entertainments are usually available for inhabitants of the local community to enjoy. [117] Some Hindus observe Yama Deepa on the second night before the main day of Diwali.[118][119]. 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. [170] National and civic leaders such as the former Prince Charles have attended Diwali celebrations at prominent Hindu temples in the UK, such as the Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, using the occasion to highlight contributions of the Hindu community to British society. The festivities vary between different regions. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. The festival of Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom after defeating Ravana. DIWALI - October 24, 2023 - National Today While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . The festival isn't celebrated in Kerala though. This year it was from November 5th-9th and in 2019 it will be October 25-29th. [148] On this day the womenfolk of the family gather, perform a puja with prayers for the well being of their brothers, then return to a ritual of feeding their brothers with their hands and receiving gifts. "The first day . [169][r], Many governments encourage or sponsor Diwali-related festivities in their territories. 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). When is Diwali 2021? Start date of Hindu festival of lights - mirror "When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023?" They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha. [135] Vaishnava families recite Hindu legends of the victory of good over evil and the return of hope after despair on the Diwali night, where the main characters may include Rama, Krishna, Vamana or one of the avatars of Vishnu, the divine husband of Lakshmi.
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