Sometimes these are wrapped with edible silver foil (vark). Lakshmi is the focus of worship on that day. When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? [139], The celebrations and rituals of the Jains and the Sikhs are similar to those of the Hindus where social and community bonds are renewed. A solar calendar (like the Gregorian one) has an average of 365.24 days. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209 (accessed March 4, 2023). Hindu temples on this day prepare and present "mountains of sweets" to the faithful who have gathered for darshan (visit). In 2021, Diwali is on November 4. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. In other regions, parents invite a newly married daughter, or son, together with their spouses to a festive meal and give them gifts. This year it was from November 5th-9th and in 2019 it will be October 25-29th. The day also marks a major shopping day to purchase new utensils, home equipment, jewelry, firecrackers, and other items. It is a day in which people rid themselves of evil and everything negative. In 2019, Diwali started on October 25 as reported by The Fact. This is the day when Hindu, Jain and Sikh temples and homes are aglow with lights, thereby making it the "festival of lights". Each day has a different name and rituals. When is Diwali? [137][138] According to Pintchman, who quotes Raghavan, this ritual may also be linked to the tradition in some communities of paying respect to ancestors. The Diwali festival dates back to ancient times in India. Large government-sponsored festivals are held in London, Sydney, Toronto, and Edinburgh, and they are often a showcase for Indian culture, music, dance, fashion, food, crafts, and fireworks. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. iStock.com/triloks What Do People Do? Merchants perform religious ceremonies and open new account books. People illuminate their homes, temples and offices with diyas, candles and lanterns. UCF's Indian Student Association (ISA) will host Diwali event at the Hindu Society of Central Florida Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. Diwali (Deepavali) Nov 27, 2023: Guru Nanak's Birthday: Dec 25, 2023: Christmas Day: Which are the other holidays in India? Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. 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. The fourth day has different names in different regions and typically celebrates the marital bond. Cook, Sharell. Hindus celebrate Diwali. [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. This event is free and UCF students of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend. The third day is the day of Lakshmi Puja and the darkest night of the traditional month. Where does Diwali get its name? 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. 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. 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 is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. Food is a major focus with families partaking in feasts and sharing mithai. [52] In Nepal, it is also a multiday festival, although the days and rituals are named differently, with the climax being called the Tihar festival by Hindus and Swanti festival by Buddhists. This is why dates change every year. The five day festival falls in the first week of Novmber. This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. This year, Diwali begins on Monday 24 October on the Gregorian calendar. Diwali 2021: What the holiday . [148] On this day the womenfolk of the family gather, perform a puja with prayers for the well being of their brothers, then return to a ritual of feeding their brothers with their hands and receiving gifts. On this day, sisters will give gifts to their brothers and invite them to enjoy a meal. The festival typically lasts for four to five days and coincides with the new moon on the Hindu lunisolar calendar,. Small business owners give gifts or special bonus payments to their employees between Dhanteras and Lakshmi Pujan. During the festival, diyas are lit and placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams. This year, the biggest day of festivities (Lakshmi Puja) will take place on November 4, 2021. [41], Diwali (English: /dwli/)[9] or Divali[44] is from the Sanskrit dpvali meaning "row or series of lights". Cook, Sharell. The Lacshmipuja dipanwita, remarked Jones, was a "great festival at night, in honour of Lakshmi, with illuminations on trees and houses".[68][f]. When is Navaratri in 2021, 2022, and 2023? Here is everything you need to know about the festival and how it is celebrated. This is believed to please Yama, the god of death, and to ward off untimely death. 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). The meaning of Diwaliand its many legends Diwali is so widely. [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. It's a celebration that takes place 15 days after Diwali - the Hindu festival of lights. Diwali this year is a close-knit family affair. Diwali or Deepawali, known as the "festival of lights," is usually celebrated in October or November, and is on October 24 this year. [98][99] This traditional belief of the origin of Diwali, and its significance to Jains, is reflected in their historic artworks such as paintings. They also spend time with family and friends to enjoy good food and fireworks. [128][95], The day after Diwali is the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik. It . The first day, November 2, is Dhanteras. Although most important for Hindus, the festival is also observed by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. [173], Diwali was first celebrated in the White House by George W. Bush in 2003 and its religious and historical significance was officially recognized by the United States Congress in 2007. [23] Another aspect of the festival is remembering the ancestors. 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). Every year on the darkest night in the northern hemisphere, millions illuminate their homes and streets to celebrate the victory of good over evil. Meaning "rows of lighted lamps," Diwali is a celebration of light over darkness for different cultures across the world, especially South Asia. [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. One tradition starts a new month from the new moon, while the other starts it from the full moon. 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. According to Truschke, Aurangzeb did so because he found the festivals "distasteful" and also from "concerns with public safety" lurking in the background. [161] Other goods that are bought in substantial quantities during Diwali include confectionery and fireworks. [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. 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. [171][172] Since 2009, Diwali has been celebrated every year at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister. Diwali is the Indian "festival of lights"a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Ths festival of lights, i.e. The dates change each year because they are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but it typically happens in October and November. [4] Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Newar Buddhists,[29] although for each faith it marks different historical events and stories, but nonetheless the festival represents the same symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. [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]. This is done via a bathing ritual called Abhyanga Snan. The devotion and dedication of Hanuman pleased Rama so much that he blessed Hanuman to be worshipped before him. [43] The lamps from the puja ceremony are then used to light more earthenware lamps, which are placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses,[130] while some diyas are set adrift on rivers and streams. It coincides with the new moon (amvasy) and is deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunisolar calendar. Ritually, in honour of Lakshmi, the female player always wins. 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. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426 (accessed March 4, 2023). Ubtan is applied by the women which is made up of special gram flour mixed with herbs for cleansing and beautifying themselves. [43], The artisan Hindu and Sikh community celebrates the fourth day as the Vishwakarma puja day. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. [68] In his paper on The Lunar Year of the Hindus, Jones, then based in Bengal, noted four of the five days of Diwali in the autumn months of Aswina-Cartica [sic] as the following: Bhutachaturdasi Yamaterpanam (2nd day), Lacshmipuja dipanwita (the day of Diwali), Dyuta pratipat Belipuja (4th day), and Bhratri dwitiya (5th day). 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. In 2023, Diwali will be celebrated on 19th October (Sunday). Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. This year, it begins in the first week of November from 2nd-6th. This year's festival begins on Oct. 22. The darkest night is the apex of the celebration and coincides with the second half of October or early November in the Gregorian calendar. iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath What Do People Do? People will wear their best clothes and pray to Lakshmi as lamps are lit outside homes and temples. Major celebrations occur on the third day of the five-day long festival . It is usually celebrated on October or November every year. Diwali is the symbol of the victory of good over evil, of hope over despair and of knowledge over ignorance. Diwali takes places every year, either in October or November, depending on the position of the Moon. [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. All the days except Diwali are named using the designation in the Indian calendar. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and an even deeper meaning is to drive away our inner darkness with light. [102] The festival of Diwali, according to Ray Colledge, highlights three events in Sikh history: the founding of the city of Amritsar in 1577, the release of Guru Hargobind from the Mughal prison, and the day of Bhai Mani Singh's martyrdom in 1738 as a result of his failure to pay a fine for trying to celebrate Diwali and thereafter refusing to convert to Islam. [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. [185] When these compounds pollute the air, they increase the risk of cancer in people. 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. 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. Fireworks are often set off in the evening to celebrate Diwali. Spread joy. The festivals and . Today it is the "festival of lights," attached to various mythological stories, particularly tales about Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Diwali, the festival of lights, is a religious observance commemorated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists around the world. Diwali is one of the most revered and a pious festival deeply entrenched in Hindu culture. It began sending official greetings and message to Muslims in 1967 on. [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. The five days are as follows:. [12] According to Goldstein, these are then shaped into various forms, such as laddus, barfis, halwa, kachoris, shrikhand, and sandesh, rolled and stuffed delicacies, such as karanji, shankarpali, maladu, susiyam, pottukadalai. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . The names and events of the individual days of Diwali are as follows: The first day, known as Dhanteras, is dedicated to cleaning homes and purchasing small items of gold. [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. What are the 5 Diwali Days in 2022? [53][54], The five-day long festival originated in the Indian subcontinent and is likely a fusion of harvest festivals in ancient India. A diya that is filled with sesame oil is lit at back of their homes facing in the southern direction. Diwali festivities usually last for 5 days. Spiritually, Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It takes place on November 26 this year. 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. [169][r], Many governments encourage or sponsor Diwali-related festivities in their territories. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. A lunar half-month is 15 days. They follow thithi which is based on the movement of planets and Sun. 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. These two festivals likely developed in tandem over their recent histories, states McDermott. 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. The word "Deepavali" means "a row of lights" in Sanskrit, and its origins were likely as an ancient harvest festival. The final day is Bhai Dooj and similarly, celebrates the bonds between brothers and sisters. Dipa oil lamps are often lit for Diwali celebrations. One of the earliest reports on this variation was by Wilson in 1847. In the diaspora, all the countries in the world outside of the Indian subcontinent where Indian people have settled, Diwali is considered a public celebration open to Hindus and anyone else. 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. In North India the festival also celebrates the royal homecoming of Rama (along with Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman) to the city of Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the 10-headed king of the demons, thus connecting the festival with the holiday of Dussehra. Shiva surrenders his shirt and adornments to her, rendering him naked. [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. This time the revered festival of Diwali is to be held on the month of October 24, 2022. Diwali is the Festival of Lights, observed by Indian communities around the world. In the lead-up to Diwali, celebrants prepare by cleaning, renovating, and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas (oil lamps) and rangolis (colorful art circle patterns). They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha. Jean Mead, How and why Do Hindus Celebrate Divali?, John Bowker, ed., Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions (Oxford UP, 2000), See Festivals, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, "2022 Diwali Puja Calendar, Deepavali Puja Calendar for New Delhi, NCT, India", "Diwali 2020 Date in India: When is Diwali in 2020? [60] It is mentioned in the Ramayana that Diwali was celebrated for only 2 years in Ayodhya. [19] Diwali is also marked with fireworks and the decoration of floors with rangoli designs, and other parts of the house with jhalars. [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. In Australia, over one million Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs celebrate versions of the festival, which include Tihar and Bandi Chhor Diwas. [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. The festival usually falls between mid-October and mid-November. The word "avali" means row and "deepa . This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. . Because Diwali is such a meaningful celebration, festivities are often planned years in advance. Because the festival of Diwali is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, the dates are different each year. Diwali is an important festival in Jainism. 2. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. Diwali celebrates Rama's eventual defeat of the evil spirit Ravana, and his triumphant return to his home. Dates for 2020 to 2025." 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. At such events a variety of music, dance and arts performances, food, crafts, and cultural celebrations are featured. However, in South India, the festival is observed as the defeat of Narakasura. 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. [174][175] Barack Obama became the first president to personally attend Diwali at the White House in 2009. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. The main festival is on Sunday, but festivities begin on Friday, a day called Dhanteras. Every year it is celebrated on the darkest night of the Hindu month Kartika. These purchases are often gold and silver items or new utensils. [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. [135][136] At dusk, lamps placed earlier in the inside and outside of the home are lit up to welcome Lakshmi. Dev Deepawali or Dev Diwali takes place on the full-moon night of the Hindu month of Kartika. Every autumn, the observance sees millions of people attend. (2021, October 12). [122] A mythological interpretation of this festive day is the destruction of the asura (demon) Narakasura by Krishna, a victory that frees 16,000 imprisoned princesses kidnapped by Narakasura. This year (2021), Diwali begins on Tuesday 2 November, with the peak day of celebrations happening on the third day, Thursday 4 November. The celebration will include dancing, a fashion show and other performances, as well as free food. 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. 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). It is an official holiday in a dozen countries, while the other festive days are regionally observed as either public or optional restricted holidays in India. While different historical events are observed in different regions and by different faiths, Diwali represents the triumph of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance for all the cultures that celebrate it. It is observed by the Vajrayana Buddhist minority among the Newarpeople of Nepal. [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. Make sure you check the dates online if you plan on visiting India during Diwali. [24], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali is now also celebrated by other faiths.