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[114][43][82] On the evening of Dhanteras, families offer prayers (puja) to Lakshmi and Ganesha, and lay offerings of puffed rice, candy toys, rice cakes and batashas (hollow sugar cakes). [29][30] Newar Buddhists in Nepalese valleys also celebrate the Diwali festival over five days, in much the same way, and on the same days, as the Nepalese Hindu Diwali-Tihar festival. [183] These invisible yet harmful particles affect the environment and in turn, put people's health at stake. Diwali is for mere mortals; Dev Deepawali is the festival of the gods. Hindu temples on this day prepare and present "mountains of sweets" to the faithful who have gathered for darshan (visit). The day also marks a major shopping day to purchase new utensils, home equipment, jewelry, firecrackers, and other items. A diya that is filled with sesame oil is lit at back of their homes facing in the southern direction. One tradition starts a new month from the new moon, while the other starts it from the full moon. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . "When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023?" It is celebrated in India and other countries such as Nepal, Malaysia, Fiji, and Mauritius. On this day, sisters will give gifts to their brothers and invite them to enjoy a meal. In Australia, over one million Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs celebrate versions of the festival, which include Tihar and Bandi Chhor Diwas. [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. Some suggest he lived in the 5th-century BCE contemporaneously with the Buddha. The second day is devoted to Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Edward Reddcliff 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. [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. The third day is the day of Lakshmi Puja and the darkest night of the traditional month. 25 Diwali Facts - Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays [124][128] Shops either do not open or close early on this day allowing employees to enjoy family time. It is celebrated in October or November each year. 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. 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. [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. Sikhs historically referred to this festival as Diwali. This day marks the beginning of deepawali celebrations. Fireworks are often set off in the evening to celebrate Diwali. They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha. Diwali's date is determined by the India calendar and changes every year, ranging from October to November. The holiday overlaps with the Hindu New Year and as a result is associated with a chance to reset and start anew. 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. 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. [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. Diwali is celebrated every year in either October or November, based on the lunar cycle. . [60] It is mentioned in the Ramayana that Diwali was celebrated for only 2 years in Ayodhya. [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. Dhan-trayodashi or Dhan teras: Dhan means "wealth" and Trayodashi means "thirteenth day." Thus, as the name . What Is Diwali? When and How to Celebrate This Indian Holiday | Martha [41], Diwali (English: /dwli/)[9] or Divali[44] is from the Sanskrit dpvali meaning "row or series of lights". Dipa oil lamps are often lit for Diwali celebrations. It is traditionally a puja, or a celebration that worships, honors, and shows devotion to the divine. Hit ctrl+D to bookmark this page, and share this page with your friends. Diwali, for Vasavada, would always culminate in a large family feast with enough food to feed a small town. Diwali: Hindu Festival of Lights | Live Science It coincides with the new moon (amvasy) and is deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunisolar calendar. Subhamoy Das is the co-author of "Applied Hinduism: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World." Omissions? Make sure you check the dates online if you plan on visiting India during Diwali. Bhalla said the dates change each year based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but typically happens in October and November. When is Diwali 2022: What is Diwali, who celebrates it and how to wish [115][144][145], The agricultural symbolism is also observed on this day by many Hindus as Annakut, literally "mountain of food". 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. Each day of the festival has special significance. [114], According to Tracy Pintchman, Dhanteras is a symbol of annual renewal, cleansing and an auspicious beginning for the next year. [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. 2. One of the earliest reports on this variation was by Wilson in 1847. Amavasya is thought of as the darkest night of the year and is holy to Hindus. [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. While the dates vary annually based on the Hindu lunar calendar, Diwali usually occurs in October or November. Diwali Calender - When is Diwali in 2022, Diwalifestival.org [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. Each day of Diwali is marked differently. [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 Diwali night's lights and firecrackers, in this interpretation, represent a celebratory and symbolic farewell to the departed ancestral souls. [21][22] Many towns organise community parades and fairs with parades or music and dance performances in parks. Importance of Diwali Festival and Its Significance | About Diwali Such events are also mentioned in Sikh historical records. This is why dates change every year. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Dates for 2020 to 2025." [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 also known as Deepavali, Dipavali, Dewali, Deepawali, or the Festival of Lights. Diwali, also spelled Divali, is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. What is Diwali? | University of Central Florida News Diwali or Deepavali - "The festival of lights" is one of the most important festivals for Hindus. [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. Learn Religions, Sep. 4, 2021, learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209. 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). [143][147], The day celebrates the sibling bond between brother and sister. 5 Days of Diwali in India - timesproperty.com It is observed on the 15th day of the 8th month (the month of Kartik) in India's calendar. When is Diwali this year and how to celebrate the Festival of Lights [48][127], The youngest members in the family visit their elders, such as grandparents and other senior members of the community, on this day. When Is Diwali 2021 and How Is the Festival of Lights Celebrated? Diwali/Deepavali is a public holiday. [177][s], The use of fireworks also causes an increase in the number of burn injuries in India during Diwali. 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. DIWALI - Changes Annually - National Day Calendar The third day is Diwali and the height of the festival. It's been 11 years since we celebrated Diwali at our family homes back in India, but that will never stop us from feeling at home, celebrating traditions, and embracing it. Every year Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains around the world celebrate the Indian Festival of Lights called Diwali. New York City makes Diwali public school holiday from 2023 [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". Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator, fact-checker and author of the thrift shopping book. [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. Scholars contest the 527 BCE date and consider Mahavira's biographical details as uncertain. [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. [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. Most of the injuries sustained are Group I type burns (minor) requiring only outpatient care. This is believed to please Yama (Yamraj), the god of death, and to ward off untimely death. 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/Deepavali in India - Time and Date [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.