For example, the Singaporean government, in association with the Hindu Endowment Board of Singapore, organises many cultural events during Diwali every year. People illuminate their homes, temples and offices with diyas, candles and lanterns. In Sri Lanka and. Unlike some other festivals, the Hindus typically do not fast during the five-day long Diwali including Lakshmi Pujan, rather they feast and share the bounties of the season at their workplaces, community centres, temples, and homes. It's a celebration that takes place 15 days after Diwali - the Hindu festival of lights. [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. 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. "There were a hundred-plus of us at my cousin's house each year," she explains. While Diwali spans five days, the holiday reaches its peak on day three this year, falling on Oct. 24, 2022. This year, it begins in the first week of November from 2nd-6th. Learn Religions, Sep. 4, 2021, learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209. Most of the injuries sustained are Group I type burns (minor) requiring only outpatient care. Shopkeepers and small operations perform puja rituals in their office premises. This is why dates change every year. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. In 2022, Diwali falls on October 24th which is a new moon day or Amavasya. In some parts of India, the day after Lakshmi Puja is marked with the Govardhan Puja and Balipratipada (Padwa). Where does Diwali get its name? Illustrative Islamic records, states Stephen Blake, include those of 16th-century Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi who wrote, "during Diwali. the ignorant ones amongst Muslims, particularly women, perform the ceremonies they celebrate it like their own Id and send presents to their daughters and sisters,. they attach much importance and weight to this season [of Diwali]. This time the revered festival of Diwali is to be held on the month of October 24, 2022. Major temples and homes are decorated with lights, festive foods shared with all, friends and relatives remembered and visited with gifts. We usually plan for our parents to visit us during this period but the pandemic has made it difficult this year for everyone. [61], Islamic historians of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire era also mentioned Diwali and other Hindu festivals. Forget bitterness. "Deepawali" and "Dipawali" redirect here. [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. This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. 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. This festival gets its name from "Deepa" meaning "Light" and "Avali" meaning "Row". 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. It . A lunar day is uniquely identified by three calendar elements: msa (lunar month), paka (lunar fortnight) and tithi (lunar day). [128][95], The day after Diwali is the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik. [56][57] Rajasekhara referred to Deepavali as Dipamalika in his 9th-century Kavyamimamsa, wherein he mentions the tradition of homes being whitewashed and oil lamps decorated homes, streets and markets in the night. It is the main day of the Diwali festival. 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. Meaning "rows of lighted lamps," Diwali is a celebration of light over darkness for different cultures across the world, especially South Asia. DIWALI. Diwali or Deepavali - "The festival of lights" is one of the most important festivals for Hindus. When is Navaratri in 2021, 2022, and 2023? [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. It is well preserved on the north wall of the second. Kartik overlaps with October and November. iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath What Do People Do? During the festival, diyas are lit and placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams. It is commemorated on the 15th day of Kartik, the Hindu calendar's holiest month. It is a national holiday in India which marks its independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947. The 5 days of Diwali It is in fact the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksh, the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik. * [27] Newar Buddhists, unlike other Buddhists, celebrate Diwali by worshipping Lakshmi, while the Hindus of Eastern India and Bangladesh generally celebrate Diwali by worshipping the goddess Kali. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . 2. Confectioners and shops create Diwali-themed decorative displays, selling these in large quantities, which are stocked for home celebrations to welcome guests and as gifts. [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 first day . The festival climax is on the third day and is called the main Diwali. A Hindu devotee lights oil lamps at a temple during . The dates of Diwali change every year, though the five day festival generally falls between late October and early November. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. "When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023?" The day of Diwali itself falls on November 4.. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [143], The last day of the festival, the second day of the bright fortnight of Kartik, is called Bhai Duj (literally "brother's day"[146]), Bhau Beej, Bhai Tilak or Bhai Phonta. The women, in particular, adorn themselves in colourful attire and decorate their hands with henna. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [21][22] Many towns organise community parades and fairs with parades or music and dance performances in parks. However, in South India, the festival is observed as the defeat of Narakasura. It coincides with the day of Kali Chaudas. [126] Family members light up firecrackers, which some interpret as a way to ward off all evil spirits and the inauspicious, as well as add to the festive mood. [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. It is celebrated in October or November each year. each day of the five-day Diwali comes with a different set of traditions. [91] The telling of these myths are reminiscent of the Hindu belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil. Sometimes these are wrapped with edible silver foil (vark). Diwali/Deepavali is a public holiday. [166] Stock markets like NSE and BSE in India are typically closed during Diwali, with the exception of a Diwali Muhurat trading session for an hour in the evening to coincide with the beginning of the new year. On the third day, Lakshmi Puja, families seek blessings from Lakshmi to ensure their prosperity; light diyas, candles, and fireworks; andvisittemples. Diwali is celebrated every year in either October or November, based on the lunar cycle. It is determined by the Indian calendar and the dates of celebration change every year. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) [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. Communities prepare over one hundred dishes from a variety of ingredients, which is then dedicated to Krishna before being shared among the community. People often think of Diwali as a Hindu festival, but it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains . Also known as the 'festival of lights', the celebration usually lasts for five days. Updates? The word "avali" means row and "deepa . 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). [13][14][15][16] The festival is widely associated with Lakshmi,[17][18] goddess of prosperity and Ganesha, god of wisdom and the remover of obstacles, with many other regional traditions connecting the holiday to Sita and Rama, Vishnu, Krishna, Durga, Shiva, Kali, Hanuman, Kubera, Yama, Yami, Dhanvantari, or Vishvakarman. 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. It's celebrated across five days with the day of Diwali observed on the new moon or Amavasya. Major celebrations occur on the third day of the five-day long festival . 10,000 on this Diwali: ASSOCHAM survey, "Festival of Lights: All You Need to Know About Diwali", "DNA Explainer: What is Diwali Muhurat Trading and why it is best time to invest in stocks", "NextFins Celebrates Diwali With the Launch of INDF", "Prince Charles, Camilla celebrate Diwali in UK", "Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall Celebrate Diwali at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London", "Brown celebrates Diwali at 10, Downing Street, in a 'historic' first", "Pakistan parliament adopts resolution for Holi, Diwali, Easter holidays", "Muslim-majority Pakistan set to declare Holi, Diwali and Easter as public holidays", "Muslims join Hindus in Diwali celebrations in Pakistan's Peshawar", "Burns in the developing world and burn disasters", "Air Pollution: Delhi's air quality enters 'Red Zone' ahead of Diwali", "Diwali may bring 'severe' air pollution to Delhi, despite fireworks ban", "Firecrackers Not Only Pollute The Environment But Also Carry Cancer Causing Chemicals", "Diyas symbolise Diwali, crackers cause pollution: Delhi environment minister", The Ancient Origins of Diwali, Indias Biggest Holiday, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sembilan's Birthday, Anniversary of Installation of the Sultan of Terengganu, Declaration of Malacca City as Historical City, Declaration of George Town as World Heritage Site, Annunciation of the Virgin Mary / Annunciation of the Theotokos, Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust, Emancipation Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Fast in Honor of the Holy Mother of Lord Jesus, Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Nativity of Mary / Nativity of the Theotokos, Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, Virgin IslandsPuerto Rico Friendship Day, Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Diwali&oldid=1139371132, Articles containing Assamese-language text, Articles containing Bengali-language text, Articles containing Gujarati-language text, Articles containing Kannada-language text, Articles containing Konkani (individual language)-language text, Articles containing Maithili-language text, Articles containing Malayalam-language text, Articles containing Marathi-language text, Articles containing Punjabi-language text, Articles containing Nepali (macrolanguage)-language text, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, All Wikipedia articles written in Indian English, Articles using infobox templates with no data rows, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Ashvin Krishna Trayodashi, Ashvin Krishna Chaturdashi, Ashvin Amavasya, Kartik Shukla Pratipada, Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, 11 (Kali Chaudas/Hanuman Puja/Chhoti Diwali), This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 20:01. These lamps symbolize the light of inner spirituality that protects us from the spiritual darkness that threatens to engulf us. This is believed to please Yama, the god of death, and to ward off untimely death. Learn Religions. [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. Diwali is an important festival in Jainism. About Diwali. Although most important for Hindus, the festival is also observed by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. 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. 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. [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. They follow thithi which is based on the movement of planets and Sun. 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. The celebration will include dancing, a fashion show and other performances, as well as free food. Diwali, also spelled Divali, is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. 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. [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. [117] Some Hindus observe Yama Deepa on the second night before the main day of Diwali.[118][119]. The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahaviras holy knowledge. One particular firework called anar (fountain) has been found to be responsible for 65% of such injuries, with adults being the typical victims. Though technically religious, it's also become a cultural event in North America that's celebrated with sweets and special foods. To learn more, visit ISA's Instagram. [43], The puja and rituals in the Bengali Hindu community focus on Kali, the goddess of war, instead of Lakshmi. Diwali this year is a close-knit family affair. Diwali (Deepavali) Nov 27, 2023: Guru Nanak's Birthday: Dec 25, 2023: Christmas Day: Which are the other holidays in India? [112] [o] The looms, tools of trade, machines and workplaces are cleaned and prayers offered to these livelihood means. 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. What makes Dev Deepawali different from Diwali? They also spend time with family and friends to enjoy good food and fireworks. [50] 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). [81], Many Hindus associate the festival with Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and wife of Vishnu. The dates of Diwali change every year as it dependent on the moon cycle. 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). 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. [23][140] According to one tradition, the day is associated with the story of Bali's defeat at the hands of Vishnu. However, the focus of the Jain Diwali remains the dedication to Mahavira. This year (2021), Diwali begins on Tuesday 2 November, with the peak day of celebrations happening on the third day, Thursday 4 November. 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. [153][p] In the modern day, Diwali mela are held at college, or university, campuses or as community events by members of the Indian diaspora. [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. Cook, Sharell. In 2019, Diwali started on October 25 as reported by The Fact. A variety of entertainments are usually available for inhabitants of the local community to enjoy. Some diyas may also be set adrift on streams and river and the evening is marked with fireworks. [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. 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. The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. [165] About two-thirds of Indian households, according to the ASSOCHAM forecast, would spend between 5,000 (US$63) and 10,000 (US$130) to celebrate Diwali in 2017. Diwali celebrates Rama's eventual defeat of the evil spirit Ravana, and his triumphant return to his home. This is believed to please Yama (Yamraj), the god of death, and to ward off untimely death. In 2023, Diwali is on November 12. The five days are as follows:. Diwali lasts five days, and the main celebrations are held on the third day of the festival. In South India the festival marks Krishnas defeat of the demon Narakasura. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on October 24. When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? It's observed on the 15th day of the month. Learn Religions, Oct. 12, 2021, learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426. The common celebratory practices are known as the festival of light, however there are minor differences from state to state in India. 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. 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. In 2021, Diwali is on November 4. 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. 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. Naraka Chaturdashi, also known as Chhoti Diwali, is the second day of festivities coinciding with the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin or Kartik. Facts about Diwali 1) Diwali is an important religious festival originating in India. 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. Naraka Chaturdashi is the second day of the festival on November 3. [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. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Diwali as a new-moon day, marks the last day of a 15-day period. Cook, Sharell. Scholars contest the 527 BCE date and consider Mahavira's biographical details as uncertain. Lasting over five days, the holiday is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs worldwide. Diwali festivities usually last for 5 days. This year's festival begins on Oct. 22. Diwali is usually celebrated twenty days after the Vijayadashami festival, with Dhanteras, or the regional equivalent, marking the first day of the festival when celebrants prepare by cleaning their homes and making decorations on the floor, such as rangolis. Each day has a different name and rituals. 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. The meaning of Diwaliand its many legends Diwali is so widely. The festival isn't celebrated in Kerala though. 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. "[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. 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. [12] Chhoti Diwali is also a day for visiting friends, business associates and relatives, and exchanging gifts. On this day, Lord Dhanwantari came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic for mankind. The word "Deepavali" means "a row of lights" in Sanskrit, and its origins were likely as an ancient harvest festival. [143][147], The day celebrates the sibling bond between brother and sister. In 2023, Diwali will be celebrated on 19th October (Sunday). [167] In 2020, the INDF ETF was launched to mark the start of Diwali. Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi Devi is worshipped on this day and it is customary to purchase precious articles. [19] Diwali is also marked with fireworks and the decoration of floors with rangoli designs, and other parts of the house with jhalars. 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 is celebrated for five days, each with its own special significance.
when is diwali every year