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. [185] When these compounds pollute the air, they increase the risk of cancer in people. [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. Today it is the "festival of lights," attached to various mythological stories, particularly tales about Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Subhadra welcomes him with a tilaka on his forehead. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning row of lights. The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. [143] In Gujarat, Annakut is the first day of the new year and celebrated through the purchase of essentials, or sabras (literally, "good things in life"), such as salt, offering prayers to Krishna and visiting temples. The festival climax is on the third day and is called the main Diwali. 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. iStock.com/triloks What Do People Do? 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. Merchants perform religious ceremonies and open new account books. Diwali, also known as Deepavali, falls on 4 November this 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. The word Deepawali comes from the Sanskrit word deep, which means an Indian lantern/lamp. 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. Each day has a special significance as follows. [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. 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). Historical records appear inconsistent about the name of the lunar month in which Diwali is observed. [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. [156] It is traditionally a time when households purchase new clothing, home refurbishments, gifts, gold, jewelry,[157][158] and other large purchases particularly as the festival is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and such purchases are considered auspicious. Subhamoy Das is the co-author of "Applied Hinduism: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World." The Lacshmipuja dipanwita, remarked Jones, was a "great festival at night, in honour of Lakshmi, with illuminations on trees and houses".[68][f]. It is well preserved on the north wall of the second. [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. [12][114] Families also prepare homemade delicacies for Lakshmi Pujan, regarded as the main day of Diwali. [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, also known as Deepawali, is the Hindu festival of lights. [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. It is one of the most important festivals within Hinduism [7] [8] where it generally lasts five days (or six in some regions of India), and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin (according to the amanta tradition) and Kartika (between mid- October and mid- November ). 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. It is celebrated in October or November each year. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) This festival gets its name from "Deepa" meaning "Light" and "Avali" meaning "Row". While Diwali spans five days, the holiday reaches its peak on day three this year, falling on Oct. 24, 2022. On the third day, Lakshmi Puja, families seek blessings from Lakshmi to ensure their prosperity; light diyas, candles, and fireworks; andvisittemples. This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. 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. On this day, sisters will give gifts to their brothers and invite them to enjoy a meal. [120] The term "chhoti" means little, while "Naraka" means hell and "Chaturdashi" means "fourteenth". Some diyas may also be set adrift on streams and river and the evening is marked with fireworks. iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath What Do People Do? Meaning "rows of lighted lamps," Diwali is a celebration of light over darkness for different cultures across the world, especially South Asia. A lunar half-month is 15 days. (2021, October 12). 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. [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. 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. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. The devotion and dedication of Hanuman pleased Rama so much that he blessed Hanuman to be worshipped before him. [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. Diwali is the biggest holiday of the year in India. Diwali lasts five days, and the main celebrations are held on the third day of the festival. Sometimes these are wrapped with edible silver foil (vark). It's observed on the 15th day of the month. [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. [21][22] Many towns organise community parades and fairs with parades or music and dance performances in parks. Omissions? It takes place on November 26 this year. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. [184], During Diwali, the levels of suspended particulate matter increase. 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. 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. [77][78][i], The religious significance of Diwali varies regionally within India. Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of Kartik which is considered as the most serene months according to the Hindu Lunar calendar. They also spend time with family and friends to enjoy good food and fireworks. Diwali's date is determined by the India calendar and changes every year, ranging from October to November. [177][s], The use of fireworks also causes an increase in the number of burn injuries in India during Diwali. Diwali Dates Detailed Information When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023? 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. In 2022, Diwali falls on October 24th which is a new moon day or Amavasya. It's celebrated across five days with the day of Diwali observed on the new moon or Amavasya. [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". [79] Throughout the epic, Rama's decisions were always in line with dharma (duty) and the Diwali festival serves as a reminder for followers of hinduism to maintain their dharma in day to day life. For example, the Singaporean government, in association with the Hindu Endowment Board of Singapore, organises many cultural events during Diwali every year. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on October 24. Such events are also mentioned in Sikh historical records. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. The day before Diwali is remembered as Naraka Chaturdasi, the day on which Narakasura was killed by Krishna. The holiday overlaps with the Hindu New Year and as a result is associated with a chance to reset and start anew. Answer (1 of 6): Hindus do not follow date system. In 2019, Diwali started on October 25 as reported by The Fact. The height of Diwali is celebrated on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of Ashvin or Kartika. One tradition starts a new month from the new moon, while the other starts it from the full moon. [58] The Venetian merchant and traveler Niccol de' Conti visited India in the early 15th-century and wrote in his memoir, "on another of these festivals they fix up within their temples, and on the outside of the roofs, an innumerable number of oil lamps which are kept burning day and night" and that the families would gather, "clothe themselves in new garments", sing, dance and feast. [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. These purchases are often gold and silver items or new utensils. [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. The celebration will include dancing, a fashion show and other performances, as well as free food. The third day is Diwali and the height of the festival. When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? It is commemorated on the 15th day of Kartik, the Hindu calendar's holiest month. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. The festival isn't celebrated in Kerala though. 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). As an auspicious occasion, many Hindus will make big purchases as it's believed that this will bring good luck. Sharell Cook lives in Mumbai full-time and writes about India travel. The date of the five day festival changes every year in accordance with the Hindu and lunar calendar. According to a Government of Himachal Pradesh and India publication, the Vishvakarma puja is observed on the fourth day of Diwali in the Himalayan state. [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 festival typically lasts for four to five days and coincides with the new moon on the Hindu lunisolar calendar,. The Diwali night's lights and firecrackers, in this interpretation, represent a celebratory and symbolic farewell to the departed ancestral souls. [101] According to J.S. This year, Diwali 2022 begins on Monday, October 24, 2022 (24/10/2022), and finishes on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 (26/10/2022). It was in early 20th-century, states Harjot Oberoi, a scholar of Sikh history, when the Khalsa Tract Society triggered by the, Hindus of eastern and northeastern states of India associate the festival with the goddess. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. During the festival, diyas are lit and placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams. Hindu temples on this day prepare and present "mountains of sweets" to the faithful who have gathered for darshan (visit). This is believed to please Yama (Yamraj), the god of death, and to ward off untimely death. Many participate in other socio-political events as a symbol of support for diversity and inclusiveness. It is a national holiday in India which marks its independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947. [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. [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. Learn Religions, Oct. 12, 2021, learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426. [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. In 2022, Diwali will begin on October 22, and end on October 26. 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. [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. 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. For Sikhs, the celebration highlights the release of guru Hargobind Singh from prison and his return to Amritsar. 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. But when Diwali occurs in the calendar changes every year. Diwali celebrates Rama's eventual defeat of the evil spirit Ravana, and his triumphant return to his home. At such events a variety of music, dance and arts performances, food, crafts, and cultural celebrations are featured. UCF's Indian Student Association (ISA) will host Diwali event at the Hindu Society of Central Florida Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. It . What is Diwali? [135][136] At dusk, lamps placed earlier in the inside and outside of the home are lit up to welcome Lakshmi. About Diwali. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. Some 200,000 New Yorkers celebrate Diwali each year, per state Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar . However, in South India, the festival is observed as the defeat of Narakasura. 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. [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. Bhalla said the dates change each year based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but typically happens in October and November. [60] It is mentioned in the Ramayana that Diwali was celebrated for only 2 years in Ayodhya. Make sure you check the dates online if you plan on visiting India during Diwali. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. On the Gregorian calendar, the festival falls between October and November. It is determined by the Indian calendar and the dates of celebration change every year. ( See calendar ). The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. [110] Some regions of India start Diwali festivities the day before Dhanteras with Govatsa Dwadashi. [135][61] While the cleaning, or painting, of the home is in part for goddess Lakshmi, it also signifies the ritual "reenactment of the cleansing, purifying action of the monsoon rains" that would have concluded in most of the Indian subcontinent. Diwali is celebrated every year in either October or November, based on the lunar cycle. [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. The date of Deepavali on the new moon makes it the darkest night in the month of Kartik, when the nights are cold, long, and dark: all the lights make that darkness easier to bear. Diwali takes places every year, either in October or November, depending on the position of the Moon. This year's festival begins on Oct. 22. Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator, fact-checker and author of the thrift shopping book. It began sending official greetings and message to Muslims in 1967 on. The Hindu calendar is based on both the sun and moon (while the Gregorian calendar is only based on the sun). 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Das, Subhamoy. According to Pintchman, the start of the 5-day Diwali festival is stated in some popular contemporary sources as the day Goddess Lakshmi was born from Samudra manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean of milk by the Devas (gods) and the Asuras (demons) a Vedic legend that is also found in several Puranas such as the Padma Purana, while the night of Diwali is when Lakshmi chose and wed Vishnu. * Important Read: Tips to Celebrate Diwali in 2021 History and Significance of Diwali The main festival day falls on a different date each autumn, timed to the Hindu lunar calendar, but it . [80], Per another popular tradition, in the Dvapara Yuga period, Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, killed the demon Narakasura, who was the evil king of Pragjyotishapura, near present-day Assam, and released 16000 girls held captive by Narakasura. 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 is the Indian "festival of lights"a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Hence Deepavali has been . Ritually, in honour of Lakshmi, the female player always wins. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. [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). Updates? This celebration lasts five days and takes place during the Hindu lunisolar month, Kartika. "There were a hundred-plus of us at my cousin's house each year," she explains. The second day, called NarakaChaturdashiorChotiDiwali, commemorates Krishnas destruction of Narakasura; prayers are also offered for the souls of ancestors. [124] Many visit their favourite Hindu temple. [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. [47][b], The five-day celebration is observed every year in early autumn after the conclusion of the summer harvest. [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. Dipa oil lamps are often lit for Diwali celebrations. [174][175] Barack Obama became the first president to personally attend Diwali at the White House in 2009. [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. Diwali is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. . Because the festival of Diwali is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, the dates are different each year. 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). This means that Diwali kicks off on Oct. 22 and is celebrated through Oct. 26,. [43], The puja and rituals in the Bengali Hindu community focus on Kali, the goddess of war, instead of Lakshmi. Diwali festivities include a celebration of sights, sounds, arts and flavours. Diwali for the year 2022 is observed on 24 October, which falls on a Monday. Lakshmi is the focus of worship on that day. All the days except Diwali are named using the designation in the Indian calendar. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. [19] Diwali is also marked with fireworks and the decoration of floors with rangoli designs, and other parts of the house with jhalars. Every year on the darkest night in the northern hemisphere, millions illuminate their homes and streets to celebrate the victory of good over evil. Diwali is the symbol of the victory of good over evil, of hope over despair and of knowledge over ignorance. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and an even deeper meaning is to drive away our inner darkness with light. Some Muslims joined the Hindu community in celebrating Diwali in the Mughal era. The holiday falls in late October or early November each year, and in 2021, is on Thursday, November 4. . Furthermore, when specifying the masa, one of two traditions are applicable, viz.