[48][127], The youngest members in the family visit their elders, such as grandparents and other senior members of the community, on this day. [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. The Diwali festival dates back to ancient times in India. ", Some inscriptions mention the festival of lights in Prakrit terms such as, The Sanskrit inscription is in the Grantha script. [28][29][30], Diwali is also a major cultural event for the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain diaspora. Spiritually, Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. 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. Amavasya is thought of as the darkest night of the year and is holy to Hindus. The darkest night is the apex of the celebration and coincides with the second half of October or early November in the Gregorian calendar. In 2022, Diwali falls on October 24th which is a new moon day or Amavasya. The festival usually falls between mid-October and mid-November. In India, the holiday always falls on the 15th of Kartik, the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar . Sharell Cook lives in Mumbai full-time and writes about India travel. 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. [135] Vaishnava families recite Hindu legends of the victory of good over evil and the return of hope after despair on the Diwali night, where the main characters may include Rama, Krishna, Vamana or one of the avatars of Vishnu, the divine husband of Lakshmi. The celebration will include dancing, a fashion show and other performances, as well as free food. 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. The festival typically lasts for four to five days and coincides with the new moon on the Hindu lunisolar calendar,. 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". [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. Diwali festivities include a celebration of sights, sounds, arts and flavours. [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. [91] The telling of these myths are reminiscent of the Hindu belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil. It is intended to signify a brother's duty to protect his sister as well as sisters blessing their brothers. Diwali is typically a four- or five-day event, starting two days before the new moon and extending two days afterward. This is why dates change every year. Diwali/Deepavali is a public holiday. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating from the fourth century CE but was likely practiced for many hundreds of years before that. 2. [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. 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. The height of Diwali is celebrated on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of Ashvin or Kartika. It also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. [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. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. [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. The second day, called NarakaChaturdashiorChotiDiwali, commemorates Krishnas destruction of Narakasura; prayers are also offered for the souls of ancestors. When people are exposed to these pollutant particles, they may suffer from eye, nose, and throat-related problems. The incredible amount of fireworks and firecrackers set off during the five days of Diwali have become an issue in many Indian cities, to the point that ambient air and noise during Diwali are considered somewhat of a health hazard. 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). Diwali is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Although most important for Hindus, the festival is also observed by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. [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". What is Diwali? Hindu temples on this day prepare and present "mountains of sweets" to the faithful who have gathered for darshan (visit). Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is the Hindu festival of lights. 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. Diwali also known as Deepavali is the . 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. [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. The common celebratory practices are known as the festival of light, however there are minor differences from state to state in India. Das, Subhamoy. It is observed on the 15th day of the 8th month (the month of Kartik) in India's calendar. [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. [184], During Diwali, the levels of suspended particulate matter increase. This means that Diwali kicks off on Oct. 22 and is celebrated through Oct. 26,. It's a celebration that takes place 15 days after Diwali - the Hindu festival of lights. Diwali symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". In 2023, it falls on a Sunday, and some businesses may choose to follow Sunday opening hours. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. October 18, 2019 By Simran Jeet Singh (RNS) With more than a billion people celebrating Diwali every year, the festival is one of the largest and most significant religious observances. Amavasya Tithi on Diwali begins at. 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. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. The day also marks a major shopping day to purchase new utensils, home equipment, jewelry, firecrackers, and other items. This year, it begins in the first week of November from 2nd-6th. The word "avali" means row and "deepa . [49] (According to Indologist Constance Jones, this night ends the lunar month of Ashwin and starts the month of Kartik[50] but see this note[c] and Amanta and Purnima systems.) Such events are also mentioned in Sikh historical records. The main festival is on Sunday, but festivities begin on Friday, a day called Dhanteras. 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. The Jain Diwali celebrated in many parts of India has similar practices to the Hindu Diwali, such as the lighting of lamps and the offering of prayers to Lakshmi. 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. This time the revered festival of Diwali is to be held on the month of October 24, 2022. 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 final day is Bhai Dooj and similarly, celebrates the bonds between brothers and sisters. The fourth day, known as GoverdhanPuja,Balipratipada,or Annakut, commemorating Krishnas defeat of Indra, the king of the gods, is also the first day of Karttika and the start of the new year in the Vikrama (Hindu) calendar. During the festival, diyas are lit and placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams. Since the 18th century, Diwali has been celebrated in Sikhism as the time of Guru Hargobinds return to Amritsar from captivity in Gwalior, an echo of Lord Ramas return to Ayodhya. Diwali is the symbol of the victory of good over evil, of hope over despair and of knowledge over ignorance. In 2019, Diwali started on October 25 as reported by The Fact. Diwali will become a public school holiday in New York City starting next year, Mayor Eric Adams (D) announced Thursday.. Why it matters: Diwali, a celebration of light over darkness that starts on Oct. 24 this year, is one of the most sacred holidays observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. [124] Many visit their favourite Hindu temple. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Dates for 2020 to 2025." [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. Calendar Of Deepavali Holidays 2022.We present you with all the dates Diwali will have from 2022 till 2040. These purchases are often gold and silver items or new utensils. The doors and windows of houses are kept open in the hope that Lakshmi will find her way inside and bless the residents with wealth and success. [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. [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. Ubtan is applied by the women which is made up of special gram flour mixed with herbs for cleansing and beautifying themselves. amnta / primnta. [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). The main festival day falls on a different date each autumn, timed to the Hindu lunar calendar, but it . One tradition starts a new month from the new moon, while the other starts it from the full moon. Diwali as a new-moon day, marks the last day of a 15-day period. [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. [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. 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. "Deepawali" and "Dipawali" redirect here. [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". The inscription states that Ramachandracharya built and dedicated a drama performance hall, with a golden cupola, on Diwali. 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. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. [60] It is mentioned in the Ramayana that Diwali was celebrated for only 2 years in Ayodhya. 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. [176], Every year during Diwali, Indian forces approach their Pakistani counterparts at the border bearing gifts of traditional Indian confectionery, a gesture that is returned in kind by the Pakistani soldiers who give Pakistani sweets to the Indian soldiers.