[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. 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. When is Diwali 2021? Start date of Hindu festival of lights - mirror It is celebrated for five days across India and other parts of southern Asia, as well as in many other places around the world. [56], Diwali was also described by numerous travelers from outside India. On that day sisters pray for the success and well-being of their brothers. Amavasya Tithi on Diwali begins at. Learn Religions, Sep. 4, 2021, learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209. The fifth day, called Bhai Dooj, Bhai Tika, or Bhai Bij, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. What Is Diwali and How Do You Celebrate Hindu Festival of Lights? Diwali Dates for 2022 to 2040 | Diwali Calender - TheHolidaySpot.com [114], According to Tracy Pintchman, Dhanteras is a symbol of annual renewal, cleansing and an auspicious beginning for the next year. The dates change each year because they are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but it typically happens in October and November. Diwali 2021: What is Diwali? Who celebrates the 'Festival of Light [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 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 year, Diwali will be on Thursday, Nov. 4. Lakshmi is the focus of worship on that day. Food is a major focus with families partaking in feasts and sharing mithai. Diwali is known as the festival of lights in India. Such events are also mentioned in Sikh historical records. Diwali, the festival of lights, is a religious observance commemorated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists around the world. [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. [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. Diwali Calender - When is Diwali in 2022, Diwalifestival.org In India, the holiday always falls on the 15th of Kartik, the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar . [64][65][d][e], Publications from the British colonial era also made mention of Diwali, such as the note on Hindu festivals published in 1799 by Sir William Jones, a philologist known for his early observations on Sanskrit and Indo-European languages. Sometimes these are wrapped with edible silver foil (vark). Diwali is the symbol of the victory of good over evil, of hope over despair and of knowledge over ignorance. [43], The artisan Hindu and Sikh community celebrates the fourth day as the Vishwakarma puja day. The diyas (lamps) are mentioned in Skanda Kishore Purana as symbolising parts of the sun, describing it as the cosmic giver of light and energy to all life and which seasonally transitions in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik. 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. Diwali's date is determined by the India calendar and changes every year, ranging from October to November. [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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is the Hindu festival of lights. It coincides with the new moon (amvasy) and is deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunisolar calendar. Diwali is one of the most revered and a pious festival deeply entrenched in Hindu culture. 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. 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 fourth day has different names in different regions and typically celebrates the marital bond. It is observed by the Vajrayana Buddhist minority among the Newarpeople of Nepal. In 2023, it falls on a Sunday, and some businesses may choose to follow Sunday opening hours. Homes are decorated, and floors inside and out are covered with rangoli, consisting of elaborate designs made of colouredrice, sand, or flower petals. 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]. [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. [48][127], The youngest members in the family visit their elders, such as grandparents and other senior members of the community, on this day. People illuminate their homes, temples and offices with diyas, candles and lanterns. What is Diwali and how is it celebrated in the UAE? - The National [9][10][11] It is a post-harvest festival celebrating the bounty following the arrival of the monsoon in the subcontinent.[12]. Firecrackers also cause light pollution. [135][61] While the cleaning, or painting, of the home is in part for goddess Lakshmi, it also signifies the ritual "reenactment of the cleansing, purifying action of the monsoon rains" that would have concluded in most of the Indian subcontinent. How to Celebrate Diwali this Year - 5280 Diwali is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartika and, much like Easter, the date changes every year. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. These purchases are often gold and silver items or new utensils. [21][22] Many towns organise community parades and fairs with parades or music and dance performances in parks. [177][s], The use of fireworks also causes an increase in the number of burn injuries in India during Diwali. 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. Indian Independence Day Independence Day is celebrated every year during August 15. 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. Happy Diwali Festival 2021: its meaning and traditional Diwali food 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? The day before Diwali is remembered as Naraka Chaturdasi, the day on which Narakasura was killed by Krishna. [115][144][145], The agricultural symbolism is also observed on this day by many Hindus as Annakut, literally "mountain of food". [124], As the evening approaches, celebrants will wear new clothes or their best outfits, teenage girls and women, in particular, wear saris and jewelry. "[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 also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating from the fourth century CE but was likely practiced for many hundreds of years before that. [117] Some Hindus observe Yama Deepa on the second night before the main day of Diwali.[118][119]. 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. Furthermore, it is a celebration of the day Rama returned to his kingdom in Ayodhya with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana after defeating the demon Ravana. 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). Diwali is also known as the 'Festival of Light' because it is celebrated using lights, fireworks and lanterns in private homes and public places. Diwali symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". The one festival in India that is celebrated above the caste & religion that is Diwali. [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. [7] The Jains observe their own Diwali which marks the final liberation of Mahavira,[25][26] the Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas to mark the release of Guru Hargobind from a Mughal prison. For the Jain community, the festival commemorates the enlightenment and liberation (moksha) of Mahavira, the most recent of the Jain Tirthankaras, from the cycle of life and death (samsara). Most of the injuries sustained are Group I type burns (minor) requiring only outpatient care. [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. Subhadra welcomes him with a tilaka on his forehead. This year, Diwali begins on Monday 24 October on the Gregorian calendar. Diwali 2021: What the holiday . Updates? The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi. 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. Happy Diwali 2022: how will the festival of lights be celebrated this year? The inscription states that Ramachandracharya built and dedicated a drama performance hall, with a golden cupola, on Diwali. The devotion and dedication of Hanuman pleased Rama so much that he blessed Hanuman to be worshipped before him. Here is the schedule for Diwali 2022: Day 1: October 22, 2022 Trayodashi - Dhanteras; Day 2: October 23, 2022 Chaturdashi - Choti Diwali; Day 3: October 24, 2022 Amavasya - Diwali Each day of Diwali is marked differently. Like : If I was born on Sept 18 th - which is a full moon day I need to celebrate my bday on a full moon day in that month( even month is different from calender months) Hop. In 2022, Diwali is on October 24. [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. Diwali is an important festival in Jainism. 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. [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. These lamps symbolize the light of inner spirituality that protects us from the spiritual darkness that threatens to engulf us. This year, it begins in the first week of November from 2nd-6th. [91] The telling of these myths are reminiscent of the Hindu belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil. 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. [184], During Diwali, the levels of suspended particulate matter increase. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Diwali 2023 - Private travel in Asia, tailor-made tours | Asia Highlights The day of Diwali itself falls on November 4.. [135][136] At dusk, lamps placed earlier in the inside and outside of the home are lit up to welcome Lakshmi. What is Diwali? All About the 2022 Festival of Lights The date of the five day festival changes every year in accordance with the Hindu and lunar calendar. Spiritually, Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. A solar calendar (like the Gregorian one) has an average of 365.24 days. It is usually celebrated on October or November every year. One tradition starts a new month from the new moon, while the other starts it from the full moon. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. It is commemorated on the 15th day of Kartik, the Hindu calendar's holiest month. Communities prepare over one hundred dishes from a variety of ingredients, which is then dedicated to Krishna before being shared among the community. [140] It is regionally called Annakut (heap of grain), Padwa, Goverdhan puja, Bali Pratipada, Bali Padyami, Kartik Shukla Pratipada and other names. Lasting over five days, the holiday is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs worldwide. Diwali celebrations can last for about five days. The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahaviras holy knowledge. Scholars contest the 527 BCE date and consider Mahavira's biographical details as uncertain. [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. Diwali 2023 dates | When Is Diwali/ Deepawali in 2023? Diwali: Hindu Festival of Lights | Live Science 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 ). 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. 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. 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. [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. [140], This day ritually celebrates the bond between the wife and husband,[143] and in some Hindu communities, husbands will celebrate this with gifts to their wives. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). In 2022, Diwali is on Monday 24 October. This is followed by Choti Diwali the next day and Diwali on November 4. Diwali celebrates Rama's eventual defeat of the evil spirit Ravana, and his triumphant return to his home. Among Hindus the most widespread custom is 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. A lunar day is uniquely identified by three calendar elements: msa (lunar month), paka (lunar fortnight) and tithi (lunar day). (2021, October 12). Dates for 2020 to 2025." Ritually, in honour of Lakshmi, the female player always wins. What is Diwali? | University of Central Florida News Everything to Know About Diwali, the 'Festival of Lights' Diwali festivities usually last for 5 days. When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023? The women, in particular, adorn themselves in colourful attire and decorate their hands with henna. 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. 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. Dipa oil lamps are often lit for Diwali celebrations. It takes place on November 26 this year. [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. Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune and prosperity, is the primary deity worshiped during Diwali. 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. The 5 days of Diwali What are the 5 Diwali Days in 2022? The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue was founded as Secretariat for non-Christians by Pope Paul VI. [162][q] ASSOCHAM, a trade organisation in India, forecasted that online shopping alone to be over 300 billion (US$3.8billion) over the 2017 Diwali season. The word "avali" means row and "deepa . In other regions, parents invite a newly married daughter, or son, together with their spouses to a festive meal and give them gifts. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426 (accessed March 4, 2023). 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. The word Deepawali comes from the Sanskrit word deep, which means an Indian lantern/lamp. This year, the biggest day of festivities (Lakshmi Puja) will take place on November 4, 2021. Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of Kartik which is considered as the most serene months according to the Hindu Lunar calendar. The Diwali-related inscription is the 4th inscription and it includes the year Vikrama Era 1268 (c. 1211 CE). Naraka Chaturdashi is the second day of the festival on November 3. [183] These invisible yet harmful particles affect the environment and in turn, put people's health at stake. Holi Dates: When is Holi in 2021, 2022 and 2023? This year, celebrations began on Saturday, with the "main Diwali " falling today, Monday October 24, which marks the . For other uses, see, Indoor Diwali decorations in front of an altar, Line of lamps at Bedara Kannappa temple, Mysore, Diyas lit for Diwali at Golden Temple, Punjab, Decorative lights for Diwali on a house in Haryana. All About Diwali 2022: When & How to Celebrate | CompareRemit Because Diwali is such a meaningful celebration, festivities are often planned years in advance. iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath What Do People Do? 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. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . At such events a variety of music, dance and arts performances, food, crafts, and cultural celebrations are featured. Diwali is celebrated every year in either October or November, based on the lunar cycle. 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. It is a national holiday in India which marks its independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Though technically religious, it's also become a cultural event in North America that's celebrated with sweets and special foods. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. Make sure you check the dates online if you plan on visiting India during Diwali. Fireworks are often set off in the evening to celebrate Diwali. Diwali Is a Festival of Sweet Delights - Food & Wine 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 . To produce colors when crackers are burst, carcinogenic and poisonous elements are used. Diwali as a new-moon day, marks the last day of a 15-day period. Diwali is also known as Deepavali, Dipavali, Dewali, Deepawali, or the Festival of Lights. DIWALI. The height of Diwali is celebrated on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of Ashvin or Kartika. Das, Subhamoy. Cook, Sharell. [143][147], The day celebrates the sibling bond between brother and sister. When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023? - Learn Religions Diwali is officially made a school holiday in New York City