The festivals and . [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. A variety of sweets are prepared using flour, semolina, rice, chickpea flour, dry fruit pieces powders or paste, milk solids (mawa or khoya) and clarified butter (ghee). Because Diwali is such a meaningful celebration, festivities are often planned years in advance. The third day is the day of Lakshmi Puja and the darkest night of the traditional month. [43][82] Along with Lakshmi, who is representative of Vaishnavism, Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Parvati and Shiva of Shaivism tradition, is remembered as one who symbolises ethical beginnings and the remover of obstacles. It is commemorated on the 15th day of Kartik, the Hindu calendar's holiest month. "There were a hundred-plus of us at my cousin's house each year," she explains. Every year on the darkest night in the northern hemisphere, millions illuminate their homes and streets to celebrate the victory of good over evil. The dates for Diwali change each year, as they are based on the Hindu lunisolar calendar. [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. [12][114] Families also prepare homemade delicacies for Lakshmi Pujan, regarded as the main day of Diwali. [50] The women, in particular, adorn themselves in colourful attire and decorate their hands with henna. ( See calendar ). Learn Religions, Oct. 12, 2021, learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426. It is a day in which people rid themselves of evil and everything negative. As an auspicious occasion, many Hindus will make big purchases as it's believed that this will bring good luck. Celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights | HowStuffWorks This event is free and UCF students of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend. Diwali Dates Detailed Information [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". 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. Diwali 2021: What is Diwali? Who celebrates the 'Festival of Light 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). Diwali usually falls in October or November. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. In South India the festival marks Krishnas defeat of the demon Narakasura. Diwali is observed on the day of Amavasya or the new moon and marks the start of the Hindu New Year. The duration will be 1 hour 56 minutes. People will wear their best clothes and pray to Lakshmi as lamps are lit outside homes and temples. Such events are also mentioned in Sikh historical records. Some celebrate Diwali as a commemoration of the marriage of Lakshmi and Vishnu, while othersobserve it as the birthday of Lakshmi. 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. Diwali is a five-day festival begins with Dhanteras and ends with Bhai Dooj. [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). Lasting over five days, the holiday is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs worldwide. 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. What is Diwali and how is it celebrated in the UAE? - The National They also spend time with family and friends to enjoy good food and fireworks. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). On this day, sisters will give gifts to their brothers and invite them to enjoy a meal. [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. "When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023?" 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. Bhalla said the dates change each year based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but typically happens in October and November. Dates for 2020 to 2025." This year (2021), Diwali begins on Tuesday 2 November, with the peak day of celebrations happening on the third day, Thursday 4 November. Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi Devi is worshipped on this day and it is customary to purchase precious articles. A lunar day is uniquely identified by three calendar elements: msa (lunar month), paka (lunar fortnight) and tithi (lunar day). [41], Diwali (English: /dwli/)[9] or Divali[44] is from the Sanskrit dpvali meaning "row or series of lights". Diwali/Deepavali in India - Time and Date In 2023, it falls on a Sunday, and some businesses may choose to follow Sunday opening hours. 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). Here is everything you need to know about the festival and how it is celebrated. These two festivals likely developed in tandem over their recent histories, states McDermott. Diwali is typically a four- or five-day event, starting two days before the new moon and extending two days afterward. [143], In some rural communities of the north, west and central regions, the fourth day is celebrated as Govardhan puja, honouring the legend of the Hindu god Krishna saving the cowherd and farming communities from incessant rains and floods triggered by Indra's anger,[143] which he accomplished by lifting the Govardhan mountain. Sikhs historically referred to this festival as Diwali. [123], This day is commonly celebrated as Diwali in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka. The celebration of Diwali aligns with the new moon, so it's celebrated on a different day each year. Diwali is the biggest holiday of the year in India. [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. [53][54], The five-day long festival originated in the Indian subcontinent and is likely a fusion of harvest festivals in ancient India. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. [140] It is regionally called Annakut (heap of grain), Padwa, Goverdhan puja, Bali Pratipada, Bali Padyami, Kartik Shukla Pratipada and other names. 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. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. The course of the five days includes cleaning . Because the festival of Diwali is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, the dates are different each year. Diwali or Deepavali, also known as the "Festival of Lights," is the biggest festival in theHindu calendar, celebrated in early fall of each year. When people are exposed to these pollutant particles, they may suffer from eye, nose, and throat-related problems. A few, notably the Mughal emperor Akbar, welcomed and participated in the festivities,[62][63] whereas others banned such festivals as Diwali and Holi, as Aurangzeb did in 1665. Where does Diwali get its name? 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. 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. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 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 determined by the Indian calendar and the dates of celebration change every year. In 2022, the five days of Diwali begin on October 22, with the most important festival date taking place on October 24. Diwali is the Indian "festival of lights"a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. [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. [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. Diwali Celebrations Dates in Different Regions Diwali 2023 (Deepavali 2023) is on Sunday, November 12th in India. Fireworks are often set off in the evening to celebrate Diwali. [43], The puja and rituals in the Bengali Hindu community focus on Kali, the goddess of war, instead of Lakshmi. [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". How to Celebrate Diwali this Year - 5280 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. 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. "When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023?" 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. Meaning "rows of lighted lamps," Diwali is a celebration of light over darkness for different cultures across the world, especially South Asia. Diwali is officially made a school holiday in New York City Many light diyas and keep them burning throughout the night. The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahaviras holy knowledge. Diwali | Definition & Facts | Britannica The holiday overlaps with the Hindu New Year and as a result is associated with a chance to reset and start anew. The festival climax is on the third day and is called the main Diwali. [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. Important Read: Tips to Celebrate Diwali in 2021 History and Significance of Diwali [120] The term "chhoti" means little, while "Naraka" means hell and "Chaturdashi" means "fourteenth". 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. When is Diwali? The fifth day, called Bhai Dooj, Bhai Tika, or Bhai Bij, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. [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. Gambling, especially in the form of card games, is encouraged as a way of ensuring good luck in the coming year and in remembrance of the games of dice played by Shiva and Parvati on Mount Kailasa or similar contests between Radha and Krishna. One of the earliest reports on this variation was by Wilson in 1847. Ubtan is applied by the women which is made up of special gram flour mixed with herbs for cleansing and beautifying themselves. This is followed by Choti Diwali the next day and Diwali on November 4. [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". Why is Diwali Celebrated | TD active Holidays Food is a major focus with families partaking in feasts and sharing mithai. Diwali 2022: What Is Diwali? - The Old Farmer's Almanac "[74][h], Jain inscriptions, such as the 10th-century Saundatti inscription about a donation of oil to Jinendra worship for the Diwali rituals, speak of Dipotsava. It is well preserved on the north wall of the second. Diwali lasts five days, and the main celebrations are held on the third day of the festival. Dates for 2020 to 2025." [124], As the evening approaches, celebrants will wear new clothes or their best outfits, teenage girls and women, in particular, wear saris and jewelry. [79], Hindus of eastern India associate the festival with the Goddess Kali, who symbolises the victory of good over evil. The date of the five day festival changes every year in accordance with the Hindu and lunar calendar. When is Diwali 2021? Start date of Hindu festival of lights - mirror A diya that is filled with sesame oil is lit at back of their homes facing in the southern direction. On that day sisters pray for the success and well-being of their brothers. It's a celebration that takes place 15 days after Diwali - the Hindu festival of lights. [181][182], The use of firecrackers on Diwali increases the concentration of dust and pollutants in the air. The meaning of Diwaliand its many legends Diwali is so widely. * Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. 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. What Is Diwali? Here's What to Know About the Holiday 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. 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. [98][99] This traditional belief of the origin of Diwali, and its significance to Jains, is reflected in their historic artworks such as paintings. Diwali is celebrated for almost five days consecutively. Major celebrations occur on the third day of the five-day long festival . 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. While Diwali spans five days, the holiday reaches its peak on day three this year, falling on Oct. 24, 2022. After firing, the fine dust particles get settled on the surrounding surfaces which are packed with chemicals like copper, zinc, sodium, lead, magnesium, cadmium and pollutants like oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. This year, Diwali will be on Thursday, Nov. 4. 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. Each day of the festival has special significance. Every occasion represents two main things: 1. What is Diwali and how is it celebrated? | BBC Good Food Diwali is known as the festival of lights in India. Cook, Sharell. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. 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. Learn Religions. 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. [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." 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.