Diwali was not a public holiday in Pakistan from 1947 to 2016. Diwali as a new-moon day, marks the last day of a 15-day period. [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. [184], During Diwali, the levels of suspended particulate matter increase. It is a time when families come together, friends are reunited and everyone celebrates the triumph of good over evil. A variety of entertainments are usually available for inhabitants of the local community to enjoy. Diwali, the festival of lights, is a religious observance commemorated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists around the world. However, in South India, the festival is observed as the defeat of Narakasura. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The fourth day has different names in different regions and typically celebrates the marital bond. [47][b], The five-day celebration is observed every year in early autumn after the conclusion of the summer harvest. In 2019, Diwali started on October 25 as reported by The Fact. [121] The day and its rituals are interpreted as ways to liberate any souls from their suffering in "Naraka", or hell, as well as a reminder of spiritual auspiciousness. [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. Sainsbury's bans fireworks across . [112] [o] The looms, tools of trade, machines and workplaces are cleaned and prayers offered to these livelihood means. One particular firework called anar (fountain) has been found to be responsible for 65% of such injuries, with adults being the typical victims. In India, while everyone celebrates Deepavali, people don't amass in public, but rather in small groups with their friends and families in homes, neighborhoods, and local temple communities. Diwali also known as Deepavali is the . [23] Some Hindus, Jains and Sikhs will send Diwali greeting cards to family near and far during the festive season, occasionally with boxes of Indian confectionery. A diya that is filled with sesame oil is lit at back of their homes facing in the southern direction. In Bengal the goddess Kali is worshipped. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209 (accessed March 4, 2023). 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. The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahaviras holy knowledge. amnta / primnta. 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. Das, Subhamoy. (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) About Diwali. The Diwali-related inscription is the 4th inscription and it includes the year Vikrama Era 1268 (c. 1211 CE). Diwali this year is a close-knit family affair. [79] The festival formally begins two days before the night of Diwali, and ends two days thereafter. This year, Diwali 2022 begins on Monday, October 24, 2022 (24/10/2022), and finishes on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 (26/10/2022). [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). Guru Amar Das, the third Guru of the Sikhs, built a well in Goindwal with eighty-four steps and invited Sikhs to bathe in its sacred waters on Baisakhi and Diwali as a form of community bonding. 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 . These purchases are often gold and silver items or new utensils. 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. [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. Omissions? 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. It's the holiday season and Diwali is around the corner. Homes are decorated, and floors inside and out are covered with rangoli, consisting of elaborate designs made of colouredrice, sand, or flower petals. [116] Some communities, particularly those active in Ayurvedic and health-related professions, pray or perform havan rituals to Dhanvantari on Dhanteras. Earlier in the season's fortnight, some welcome the souls of their ancestors to join the family for the festivities with the Mahalaya. Diwali was celebrated as a signifier of triumph of good over evil after Krishna's Victory over Narakasura. 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. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning row of lights. The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. . While Diwali spans five days, the holiday reaches its peak on day three this year, falling on Oct. 24, 2022. [116] On this day, many Hindus clean their homes and business premises. 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's celebrated across five days with the day of Diwali observed on the new moon or Amavasya. [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. [116] The term Dhan for this day also alludes to the Ayurvedic icon Dhanvantari, the god of health and healing, who is believed to have emerged from the "churning of cosmic ocean" on the same day as Lakshmi. According to Truschke, Aurangzeb did so because he found the festivals "distasteful" and also from "concerns with public safety" lurking in the background. This year, Diwali will be on Thursday, Nov. 4. 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. The final day is Bhai Dooj and similarly, celebrates the bonds between brothers and sisters. One of the earliest reports on this variation was by Wilson in 1847. The dates change each year because they are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but it typically happens in October and November. Each day has the following rituals and significance:[43], Dhanteras, derived from Dhan meaning wealth and teras meaning thirteenth, marks the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin or Kartik and the beginning of Diwali in most parts of India. 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. The course of the five days includes cleaning . It is the main day of the Diwali festival. It coincides with the day of Kali Chaudas. * 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 observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. [60] It is mentioned in the Ramayana that Diwali was celebrated for only 2 years in Ayodhya. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Some suggest he lived in the 5th-century BCE contemporaneously with the Buddha. Here is the schedule for Diwali 2022: Day 1: October 22, 2022 Trayodashi - Dhanteras; Day 2: October 23, 2022 Chaturdashi - Choti Diwali; Day 3: October 24, 2022 Amavasya - Diwali 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. 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. Fireworks are often set off in the evening to celebrate Diwali. [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. When is Navaratri in 2021, 2022, and 2023? Diwali is known as the festival of lights in India. The Lacshmipuja dipanwita, remarked Jones, was a "great festival at night, in honour of Lakshmi, with illuminations on trees and houses".[68][f]. [103][104][k], Diwali is not a festival for most Buddhists, with the exception of the Newar people of Nepal who revere various deities in Vajrayana Buddhism and celebrate Diwali by offering prayers to Lakshmi. 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. [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]. 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. [177][s], The use of fireworks also causes an increase in the number of burn injuries in India during Diwali. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . [23][140] According to one tradition, the day is associated with the story of Bali's defeat at the hands of Vishnu. 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. Some 200,000 New Yorkers celebrate Diwali each year, per state Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar . [81], Many Hindus associate the festival with Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and wife of Vishnu. This begins with the first day known as "Dhanteras' or the worship of wealth. Each day has a different name and rituals. On the Gregorian calendar, the festival falls between October and November. This event is free and UCF students of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend. [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. In Sri Lanka and. The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahaviras holy knowledge. UCF's Indian Student Association (ISA) will host Diwali event at the Hindu Society of Central Florida Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. A lunar half-month is 15 days. [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". [61], Islamic historians of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire era also mentioned Diwali and other Hindu festivals. The five days are as follows:. It is a national holiday in India which marks its independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947. This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. Spread joy. Holi Dates: When is Holi in 2021, 2022 and 2023? This day marks the beginning of deepawali celebrations. 10,000 on this Diwali: ASSOCHAM survey, "Festival of Lights: All You Need to Know About Diwali", "DNA Explainer: What is Diwali Muhurat Trading and why it is best time to invest in stocks", "NextFins Celebrates Diwali With the Launch of INDF", "Prince Charles, Camilla celebrate Diwali in UK", "Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall Celebrate Diwali at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London", "Brown celebrates Diwali at 10, Downing Street, in a 'historic' first", "Pakistan parliament adopts resolution for Holi, Diwali, Easter holidays", "Muslim-majority Pakistan set to declare Holi, Diwali and Easter as public holidays", "Muslims join Hindus in Diwali celebrations in Pakistan's Peshawar", "Burns in the developing world and burn disasters", "Air Pollution: Delhi's air quality enters 'Red Zone' ahead of Diwali", "Diwali may bring 'severe' air pollution to Delhi, despite fireworks ban", "Firecrackers Not Only Pollute The Environment But Also Carry Cancer Causing Chemicals", "Diyas symbolise Diwali, crackers cause pollution: Delhi environment minister", The Ancient Origins of Diwali, Indias Biggest Holiday, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sembilan's Birthday, Anniversary of Installation of the Sultan of Terengganu, Declaration of Malacca City as Historical City, Declaration of George Town as World Heritage Site, Annunciation of the Virgin Mary / Annunciation of the Theotokos, Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust, Emancipation Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Fast in Honor of the Holy Mother of Lord Jesus, Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Nativity of Mary / Nativity of the Theotokos, Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, Virgin IslandsPuerto Rico Friendship Day, Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Diwali&oldid=1139371132, Articles containing Assamese-language text, Articles containing Bengali-language text, Articles containing Gujarati-language text, Articles containing Kannada-language text, Articles containing Konkani (individual language)-language text, Articles containing Maithili-language text, Articles containing Malayalam-language text, Articles containing Marathi-language text, Articles containing Punjabi-language text, Articles containing Nepali (macrolanguage)-language text, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, All Wikipedia articles written in Indian English, Articles using infobox templates with no data rows, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Ashvin Krishna Trayodashi, Ashvin Krishna Chaturdashi, Ashvin Amavasya, Kartik Shukla Pratipada, Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, 11 (Kali Chaudas/Hanuman Puja/Chhoti Diwali), This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 20:01. Every occasion represents two main things: 1. 2. Diwali celebrations burst into life on the third day of the five day festival of lights, which falls between October and November with a changing date each year. They also spend time with family and friends to enjoy good food and fireworks. [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". [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. Diwali is observed on the day of Amavasya or the new moon and marks the start of the Hindu New Year. A Hindu devotee lights oil lamps at a temple during . 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. For Sikhs, the celebration highlights the release of guru Hargobind Singh from prison and his return to Amritsar. The dates of Diwali change every year, though the five day festival generally falls between late October and early November. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. In some parts of India, the day after Lakshmi Puja is marked with the Govardhan Puja and Balipratipada (Padwa). 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. Das, Subhamoy. More Topics During the festival, diyas are lit and placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams. It is well preserved on the north wall of the second. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. [56], Diwali was also described by numerous travelers from outside India. The festival isn't celebrated in Kerala though. People often think of Diwali as a Hindu festival, but it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains . Diwali, also known as Deepavali, falls on 4 November this year. [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. Grewal, a scholar of Sikhism and Sikh history, Diwali in the Sikh tradition is older than the sixth Guru Hargobind legend. Forget bitterness. [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. It is celebrated for five days across India and other parts of southern Asia, as well as in many other places around the world. This year, Diwali or Deepavali will take place on October 24. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and an even deeper meaning is to drive away our inner darkness with light. Dhan-trayodashi or Dhan teras: Dhan means "wealth" and Trayodashi means "thirteenth day." Thus, as the name . This is the day when Hindu, Jain and Sikh temples and homes are aglow with lights, thereby making it the "festival of lights". 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. Corrections? When people are exposed to these pollutant particles, they may suffer from eye, nose, and throat-related problems. Diwali usually falls in October or November. However, the focus of the Jain Diwali remains the dedication to Mahavira. People will wear their best clothes and pray to Lakshmi as lamps are lit outside homes and temples. [161] Other goods that are bought in substantial quantities during Diwali include confectionery and fireworks. Sometimes these are wrapped with edible silver foil (vark). This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Diwali-Hindu-festival, Diwali - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Diwali - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The word Deepawali comes from the Sanskrit word deep, which means an Indian lantern/lamp. Cook, Sharell. [174][175] Barack Obama became the first president to personally attend Diwali at the White House in 2009. Diwali or Deepavali, also known as the "Festival of Lights," is the biggest festival in theHindu calendar, celebrated in early fall of each year. [135][136] At dusk, lamps placed earlier in the inside and outside of the home are lit up to welcome Lakshmi. [91] The telling of these myths are reminiscent of the Hindu belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . iStock.com/triloks What Do People Do? 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. Diwali/Deepavali is a public holiday. Every year the festival falls either in November or in October and that depends on how the cycle of moon is going in that particular year. It celebrates the sister-brother bond, similar in spirit to Raksha Bandhan but it is the brother that travels to meet the sister and her family. Diwali is also an important festival in Jainism. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. It is traditionally a puja, or a celebration that worships, honors, and shows devotion to the divine. As an auspicious occasion, many Hindus will make big purchases as it's believed that this will bring good luck. According to McDermott, while the Durga Puja is the largest Bengali festival and it can be traced to the 16th-century or earlier, the start of Kali puja tradition on Diwali is traceable to no earlier than about the mid-18th-century during the reign of Raja Krishnacandra Ray. The festival of Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom after defeating Ravana. Updates? Naraka Chaturdashi is also a major day for purchasing festive foods, particularly sweets. The height of Diwali is celebrated on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of Ashvin or Kartika. To produce colors when crackers are burst, carcinogenic and poisonous elements are used. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. Answer (1 of 6): Hindus do not follow date system. Diwali celebrations can last for about five days. [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. [77][78][i], The religious significance of Diwali varies regionally within India. Diwali 2021: What the holiday . [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. 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. [12][114] Families also prepare homemade delicacies for Lakshmi Pujan, regarded as the main day of Diwali. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. 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. 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. It is usually celebrated on October or November every year. Each day of Diwali is marked differently. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. In 2022, Diwali is on Monday 24 October. 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. [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. [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. [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. The one festival in India that is celebrated above the caste & religion that is Diwali. Firecrackers also cause light pollution. Though technically religious, it's also become a cultural event in North America that's celebrated with sweets and special foods. [n] Vishwakarma is the presiding Hindu deity for those in architecture, building, manufacturing, textile work and crafts trades. According to the ancient calendar, Diwali is observed on Amavasya (or new moon) the 15th day of the month of Kartik, every year. [21][22] Many towns organise community parades and fairs with parades or music and dance performances in parks. Lakshmi is the focus of worship on that day. 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. Diwali is the Indian "festival of lights"a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. On the eve of his first visit to India as President of the United States, Obama released an official statement sharing his best wishes with "those celebrating Diwali". Diwali is a five-day festival begins with Dhanteras and ends with Bhai Dooj. [43], The puja and rituals in the Bengali Hindu community focus on Kali, the goddess of war, instead of Lakshmi. 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.
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