https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426 (accessed March 4, 2023). 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. [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. Facts about Diwali 1) Diwali is an important religious festival originating in India. Das, Subhamoy. 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. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue was founded as Secretariat for non-Christians by Pope Paul VI. Some suggest he lived in the 5th-century BCE contemporaneously with the Buddha. 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). [24], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali is now also celebrated by other faiths. The main festival is on Sunday, but festivities begin on Friday, a day called Dhanteras. Each day of the festival has special significance. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Diwali is the symbol of the victory of good over evil, of hope over despair and of knowledge over ignorance. During the festival, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs illuminate their homes, temples and workspaces with diyas (oil lamps), candles and lanterns[16] Hindus, in particular, have a ritual oil bath at dawn on each day of the festival. This year it was from November 5th-9th and in 2019 it will be October 25-29th. [60] It is mentioned in the Ramayana that Diwali was celebrated for only 2 years in Ayodhya. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . 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. [23][140] According to one tradition, the day is associated with the story of Bali's defeat at the hands of Vishnu. [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. [61], Islamic historians of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire era also mentioned Diwali and other Hindu festivals. Diwali symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". Important Read: Tips to Celebrate Diwali in 2021 History and Significance of Diwali [109] Textual evidence suggests that Bengali Hindus worshipped Lakshmi before the colonial era, and that the Kali puja is a more recent phenomenon. In some parts of India, the day after Lakshmi Puja is marked with the Govardhan Puja and Balipratipada (Padwa). In 2013, about 25 billion (US$310million) of fireworks were sold to merchants for the Diwali season, an equivalent retail value of about 50 billion (US$630million) according to The Times of India. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. Sometimes these are wrapped with edible silver foil (vark). The festival climax is on the third day and is called the main Diwali. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. The five day festival falls in the first week of Novmber. Diwali Celebrations Dates in Different Regions Diwali 2023 (Deepavali 2023) is on Sunday, November 12th in India. Diwali's date is determined by the India calendar and changes every year, ranging from October to November. Diwali is for mere mortals; Dev Deepawali is the festival of the gods. Traditionally, Marathi Hindus and South Indian Hindus receive an oil massage from the elders in the family on the day and then take a ritual bath, all before sunrise. Diwali 2021: What is Diwali? Who celebrates the 'Festival of Light [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. 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. It is well preserved on the north wall of the second. Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator, fact-checker and author of the thrift shopping book. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Das, Subhamoy. [124] Many visit their favourite Hindu temple. [174][175] Barack Obama became the first president to personally attend Diwali at the White House in 2009. iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath What Do People Do? Diwali, also known as Deepavali, falls on 4 November this year. They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha. The third day is Diwali and the height of the festival. Diwali celebrations can last for about five days. 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. The women, in particular, adorn themselves in colourful attire and decorate their hands with henna. Such events are also mentioned in Sikh historical records. This is believed to please Yama, the god of death, and to ward off untimely death. 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. Diwali, which is celebrated on different dates each year as it follows the lunar calendar, will begin on October 24 this year and last for five days. When is Diwali 2021? Start date of Hindu festival of lights - mirror It is a day in which people rid themselves of evil and everything negative. [13][14][93][94], A scholar of Jain and Nivethan, states that in Jain tradition, Diwali is celebrated in observance of "Mahavira Nirvana Divas", the physical death and final nirvana of Mahavira. The first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triodasi or Dhanwantari Triodasi also called Dhan Theras. This year, Diwali begins on Monday 24 October on the Gregorian calendar. [53][54], The five-day long festival originated in the Indian subcontinent and is likely a fusion of harvest festivals in ancient India. [184], During Diwali, the levels of suspended particulate matter increase. 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. [n] Vishwakarma is the presiding Hindu deity for those in architecture, building, manufacturing, textile work and crafts trades. 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. It takes place on November 26 this year. It's believed that on this day the Goddess Lakshmi, often associated with wealth, abundance and good fortune, visits people's homes and fulfils their desires. 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 . Lakshmi is the focus of worship on that day. Next year (2024) November 1 (Friday) Last year (2022) October 24 (Monday) This holiday gets its name from the rows of clay lamps that Indians light just outside their houses. Diwali is also known as Deepavali, Dipavali, Dewali, Deepawali, or the Festival of Lights. Major temples and homes are decorated with lights, festive foods shared with all, friends and relatives remembered and visited with gifts. Ubtan is applied by the women which is made up of special gram flour mixed with herbs for cleansing and beautifying themselves. In 2023, Diwali is on November 12. The exact date changes every year because the Hindu calendar is lunar. It is observed by the Vajrayana Buddhist minority among the Newarpeople of Nepal. Diwali is observed as a Gazetted Holiday throughout the nation. [79] The festival formally begins two days before the night of Diwali, and ends two days thereafter. Diwali 2020: When is it and how is it celebrated? - Al Jazeera . The festivities vary between different regions. It's a celebration that takes place 15 days after Diwali - the Hindu festival of lights. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Diwali: Hindu Festival of Lights | Live Science 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. [21][22] Many towns organise community parades and fairs with parades or music and dance performances in parks. When is Diwali this year and how to celebrate the Festival of Lights [120] The term "chhoti" means little, while "Naraka" means hell and "Chaturdashi" means "fourteenth". 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 - Wikipedia [43], The puja and rituals in the Bengali Hindu community focus on Kali, the goddess of war, instead of Lakshmi. In 2023, it falls on a Sunday, and some businesses may choose to follow Sunday opening hours. [123], This day is commonly celebrated as Diwali in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka. Diwali 2023 - Private travel in Asia, tailor-made tours | Asia Highlights [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. Five Days of Diwali - Diwali 5 Days, Diwalifestival.org Diwali is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. [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]. Diaspora, Identity, and Festivalization, The Festival of 'Deepavali' as Marks of Tradition and Identity for Working, Married Hindu Women: Continuity and Change, Celebrations as Social Investments: Festival Expenditures, Unit Price Variation, and Social Status in Rural India, M.A., English Literature, University of North Bengal. 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. [108] During Diwali, people wear their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with saaki (earthen lamp), diyas and rangoli, perform worship ceremonies of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth,[l] light fireworks, and partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared. Every autumn, the observance sees millions of people attend. The name of this festival is derived from 'avali,' which means 'row,' and 'deepa,' meaning "clay lamps." 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. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning row of lights. The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Why is Diwali Celebrated | TD active Holidays Diwali - New World Encyclopedia When is Diwali? This year's festival begins on Oct. 22. [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. It began sending official greetings and message to Muslims in 1967 on. [181][182], The use of firecrackers on Diwali increases the concentration of dust and pollutants in the air. [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. The day also marks a major shopping day to purchase new utensils, home equipment, jewelry, firecrackers, and other items. [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. Also known as the 'festival of lights', the celebration usually lasts for five days. Diwali is an important festival in Jainism. 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).