The festival falls sometime between October and November. Major celebrations occur on the third day of the five-day long festival . Corrections? 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. Diwali is observed as a Gazetted Holiday throughout the nation. 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. Diwali (Deepavali) Nov 27, 2023: Guru Nanak's Birthday: Dec 25, 2023: Christmas Day: Which are the other holidays in India? Some suggest he lived in the 5th-century BCE contemporaneously with the Buddha. It is in fact the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksh, the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik. [61], Islamic historians of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire era also mentioned Diwali and other Hindu festivals. 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. [143], The last day of the festival, the second day of the bright fortnight of Kartik, is called Bhai Duj (literally "brother's day"[146]), Bhau Beej, Bhai Tilak or Bhai Phonta. Diwali celebrates Rama's eventual defeat of the evil spirit Ravana, and his triumphant return to his home. 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]. During the festival, diyas are lit and placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. [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. [166] Stock markets like NSE and BSE in India are typically closed during Diwali, with the exception of a Diwali Muhurat trading session for an hour in the evening to coincide with the beginning of the new year. [115][144][145], The agricultural symbolism is also observed on this day by many Hindus as Annakut, literally "mountain of food". [92][12], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali has transcended religious lines. [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. [12][114] Families also prepare homemade delicacies for Lakshmi Pujan, regarded as the main day of Diwali. [129] At dusk, family members gather for the Lakshmi Pujan,[129] although prayers will also be offered to other deities, such as Ganesha, Saraswati, Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Hanuman, or Kubera. Merchants perform religious ceremonies and open new account books. Although not a primary festival of Buddhism, Diwali is celebrated by some Buddhists as a commemoration of the day when Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE. [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. Dipa oil lamps are often lit for Diwali celebrations. In 2022, Diwali is on Monday 24 October. DIWALI. 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. In 2022, Diwali falls on October 24th which is a new moon day or Amavasya. This year, celebrations began on Saturday, with the "main Diwali " falling today, Monday October 24, which marks the . Diwali is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Diwali is also an important festival in Jainism. 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). each day of the five-day Diwali comes with a different set of traditions. [116] Some communities, particularly those active in Ayurvedic and health-related professions, pray or perform havan rituals to Dhanvantari on Dhanteras. Ubtan is applied by the women which is made up of special gram flour mixed with herbs for cleansing and beautifying themselves. In some months, a day needs to be dropped to correlate with a shorter lunar cycle. 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. [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]. This begins with the first day known as "Dhanteras' or the worship of wealth. Diwali, also spelled Divali, is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. 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. [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. The 5 days of Diwali Each day has a special significance as follows. To learn more, visit ISA's Instagram. [116][114] Women and children decorate doorways within homes and offices with rangolis, colourful designs made from rice flour, flower petals, colored rice or colored sand,[23] while the boys and men decorate the roofs and walls of family homes, markets, and temples and string up lights and lanterns. 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. Part of the inscription, as translated by Kielhorn, reads: "the auspicious festival of lights which disperses the most profound darkness, which in former days was celebrated by the kings Ila, Kartavirya and Sagara, () as Sakra (Indra) is of the gods, the universal monarch who knows the duties by the three Vedas, afterwards celebrated here at Ranga for Vishnu, resplendent with Lakshmi resting on his radiant lap. [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. (2021, September 4). It is a national holiday in India which marks its independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947. 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. Find out all about the history, traditions and significance of Diwali in this blogpost. It is usually celebrated on October or November every year. Diwali celebrations can last for about five days. Small business owners give gifts or special bonus payments to their employees between Dhanteras and Lakshmi Pujan. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. Grewal, a scholar of Sikhism and Sikh history, Diwali in the Sikh tradition is older than the sixth Guru Hargobind legend. Cook, Sharell. This means that Diwali kicks off on Oct. 22 and is celebrated through Oct. 26,. The exact date changes every year because the Hindu calendar is lunar. Dates for 2020 to 2025." The first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triodasi or Dhanwantari Triodasi also called Dhan Theras. The five day festival falls in the first week of Novmber. Because Diwali is such a meaningful celebration, festivities are often planned years in advance. On that day sisters pray for the success and well-being of their brothers. Important Read: Tips to Celebrate Diwali in 2021 History and Significance of Diwali He has written several books about Hinduism for children and young adults. What makes Dev Deepawali different from Diwali? At such events a variety of music, dance and arts performances, food, crafts, and cultural celebrations are featured. Diwali was not a public holiday in Pakistan from 1947 to 2016. [139], The celebrations and rituals of the Jains and the Sikhs are similar to those of the Hindus where social and community bonds are renewed. This celebration lasts five days and takes place during the Hindu lunisolar month, Kartika. [43], The puja and rituals in the Bengali Hindu community focus on Kali, the goddess of war, instead of Lakshmi. Symbolising the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness, Diwali usually falls in the early autumn, coinciding with the new moon, deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunar calendar. Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune and prosperity, is the primary deity worshiped during Diwali. [112][113], Rituals and preparations for Diwali begin days or weeks in advance, typically after the festival of Dusshera that precedes Diwali by about 20 days. 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. What is Diwali? The diyas (lamps) are mentioned in Skanda Kishore Purana as symbolising parts of the sun, describing it as the cosmic giver of light and energy to all life and which seasonally transitions in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik. For Sikhs, the celebration highlights the release of guru Hargobind Singh from prison and his return to Amritsar. [124][128] Shops either do not open or close early on this day allowing employees to enjoy family time. Forget bitterness. Unlike some other festivals, the Hindus typically do not fast during the five-day long Diwali including Lakshmi Pujan, rather they feast and share the bounties of the season at their workplaces, community centres, temples, and homes. One tradition links the festival to legends in the Hindu epic Ramayana, where Diwali is the day Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman reached Ayodhya after a period of 14 years in exile after Rama's army of good defeated demon king Ravana's army of evil. Diwali is known as the festival of lights in India. A 2017 estimate states 50,000 tons (100million pounds) of fireworks are exploded annually in India over the Diwali festival. The Vishwakarma puja day is alternatively observed in other Hindu communities in accordance with the Hindu solar calendar, and this falls in September. Learn Religions, Sep. 4, 2021, learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209. In 2023, it falls on a Sunday, and some businesses may choose to follow Sunday opening hours. Dates for 2020 to 2025. Hindus celebrating Diwali in India. The holiday overlaps with the Hindu New Year and as a result is associated with a chance to reset and start anew. Amavasya is thought of as the darkest night of the year and is holy to Hindus. 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). [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. [124], As the evening approaches, celebrants will wear new clothes or their best outfits, teenage girls and women, in particular, wear saris and jewelry. The Hindu calendar is based on both the sun and moon (while the Gregorian calendar is only based on the sun). The festival usually falls between mid-October and mid-November. The festival climax is on the third day and is called the main Diwali. Diwali Decor. A Hindu devotee lights oil lamps at a temple during . The dates for Diwali change each year, as they are based on the Hindu lunisolar calendar. [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. Fireworks are often set off in the evening to celebrate Diwali. [128][95], The day after Diwali is the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik. [143][147], The day celebrates the sibling bond between brother and sister. The date of the five day festival changes every year in accordance with the Hindu and lunar calendar. Confectioners and shops create Diwali-themed decorative displays, selling these in large quantities, which are stocked for home celebrations to welcome guests and as gifts. Sharell Cook lives in Mumbai full-time and writes about India travel. This year, Diwali or Deepavali will take place on October 24. A variety of entertainments are usually available for inhabitants of the local community to enjoy. Sikhs historically referred to this festival as Diwali. The Lacshmipuja dipanwita, remarked Jones, was a "great festival at night, in honour of Lakshmi, with illuminations on trees and houses".[68][f]. 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. While different historical events are observed in different regions and by different faiths, Diwali represents the triumph of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance for all the cultures that celebrate it. The name of this festival is derived from 'avali,' which means 'row,' and 'deepa,' meaning "clay lamps." Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. [117] Some Hindus observe Yama Deepa on the second night before the main day of Diwali.[118][119]. What are the 5 Diwali Days in 2022? It is celebrated for five days across India and other parts of southern Asia, as well as in many other places around the world. It's the holiday season and Diwali is around the corner. Facts about Diwali 1) Diwali is an important religious festival originating in India. For example, the Singaporean government, in association with the Hindu Endowment Board of Singapore, organises many cultural events during Diwali every year. A lunar year varies in length, each month containing approximately 29.5 days (354 days) depending on the moon's movement with respect to the earth. Diwali Dates Detailed Information [114], According to Tracy Pintchman, Dhanteras is a symbol of annual renewal, cleansing and an auspicious beginning for the next year. [161] Other goods that are bought in substantial quantities during Diwali include confectionery and fireworks. To produce colors when crackers are burst, carcinogenic and poisonous elements are used. Cook, Sharell. Diwali for the year 2022 is observed on 24 October, which falls on a Monday. Diwali's date is determined by the India calendar and changes every year, ranging from October to November. [48][127], The youngest members in the family visit their elders, such as grandparents and other senior members of the community, on this day. [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. [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. [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. iStock.com/triloks What Do People Do? 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 is mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating from the fourth century CE but was likely practiced for many hundreds of years before that. Diwali is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartika and, much like Easter, the date changes every year. [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. Sanskrit inscriptions in stone and copper mentioning Diwali, occasionally alongside terms such as Dipotsava, Dipavali, Divali and Divalige, have been discovered at numerous sites across India. Some diyas may also be set adrift on streams and river and the evening is marked with fireworks. [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. [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. They install diyas, small earthen oil-filled lamps that they light up for the next five days, near Lakshmi and Ganesha iconography. This is followed by Choti Diwali the next day and Diwali on November 4. In Australia, over one million Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs celebrate versions of the festival, which include Tihar and Bandi Chhor Diwas. 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 well preserved on the north wall of the second. [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. 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. 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. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Some Muslims joined the Hindu community in celebrating Diwali in the Mughal era. [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). 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. It takes place on November 26 this year. Many light diyas and keep them burning throughout the night. [23] Another aspect of the festival is remembering the ancestors. [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. In 2022, Diwali will begin on October 22, and end on October 26. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. [50] Holi Dates: When is Holi in 2021, 2022 and 2023? [91] The telling of these myths are reminiscent of the Hindu belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil.
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