It is celebrated in India and other countries such as Nepal, Malaysia, Fiji, and Mauritius. [174][175] Barack Obama became the first president to personally attend Diwali at the White House in 2009. 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. This year's festival begins on Oct. 22. [48] The festivities begin two days before amvasy, on Dhanteras, and extend two days after, until the second (or 17th) day of the month of Kartik. [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. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. Hindus celebrate Diwali. Sometimes these are wrapped with edible silver foil (vark). Many light diyas and keep them burning throughout the night. Cook, Sharell. For some Hindus, it is a day to pray for the peace to the manes, or defiled souls of one's ancestors and light their way for their journeys in the cyclic afterlife. "There were a hundred-plus of us at my cousin's house each year," she explains. For Jains, it is a time to celebrate Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, and the moment reached a state of enlightenment. Diwali as a new-moon day, marks the last day of a 15-day period. [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 is commemorated on the 15th day of Kartik, the Hindu calendar's holiest month. The festival typically lasts for four to five days and coincides with the new moon on the Hindu lunisolar calendar,. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The day of Diwali itself falls on November 4. Spread joy. [120] The term "chhoti" means little, while "Naraka" means hell and "Chaturdashi" means "fourteenth". Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209. [43], The artisan Hindu and Sikh community celebrates the fourth day as the Vishwakarma puja day. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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 Jain Diwali celebrated in many parts of India has similar practices to the Hindu Diwali, such as the lighting of lamps and the offering of prayers to Lakshmi. Diwali, also spelled Divali, is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. 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. It is observed on the 15th day of the 8th month (the month of Kartik) in India's calendar. On that day sisters pray for the success and well-being of their brothers. [116] The term Dhan for this day also alludes to the Ayurvedic icon Dhanvantari, the god of health and healing, who is believed to have emerged from the "churning of cosmic ocean" on the same day as Lakshmi. [109] Textual evidence suggests that Bengali Hindus worshipped Lakshmi before the colonial era, and that the Kali puja is a more recent phenomenon. Communities prepare over one hundred dishes from a variety of ingredients, which is then dedicated to Krishna before being shared among the community. Diwali is also known as the 'Festival of Light' because it is celebrated using lights, fireworks and lanterns in private homes and public places. [123], This day is commonly celebrated as Diwali in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on October 24. As an auspicious occasion, many Hindus will make big purchases as it's believed that this will bring good luck. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Diwali or Deepawali, known as the "festival of lights," is usually celebrated in October or November, and is on October 24 this 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. Major temples and homes are decorated with lights, festive foods shared with all, friends and relatives remembered and visited with gifts. In Bengal the goddess Kali is worshipped. Diwali/Deepavali is a public holiday. [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. 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. Diwali for the year 2022 is observed on 24 October, which falls on a Monday. The date of the five day festival changes every year in accordance with the Hindu and lunar calendar. Diwali Diwali (or Deepawali, Deepavali) is an ancient Hindu festival that is celebrated in autumn every year. Diwali's date is determined by the India calendar and changes every year, ranging from October to November. The duration will be 1 hour 56 minutes. This year, Diwali 2022 begins on Monday, October 24, 2022 (24/10/2022), and finishes on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 (26/10/2022). 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 has a different name and rituals. It is a time when families come together, friends are reunited and everyone celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Such events are also mentioned in Sikh historical records. It is usually celebrated on October or November every year. It's a celebration that takes place 15 days after Diwali - the Hindu festival of lights. [92][12], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali has transcended religious lines. Cook, Sharell. Learn Religions. 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 ). But when Diwali occurs in the calendar changes every year. Diwali 2023: 12 th of November, Sunday The Prayer Hymn (Aarti) for the Hindu Diwali Celebration, The Real Reason for the Hindu Raksha Bandhan Celebration, Hindu Calendar: Days, Months, Years and Epochs, Fasting, Praying, and Regular Hindu Rituals. Diwali is for mere mortals; Dev Deepawali is the festival of the gods. Amavasya is thought of as the darkest night of the year and is holy to Hindus. Sikhs historically referred to this festival as Diwali. Dipa oil lamps are often lit for Diwali celebrations. Omissions? [101] According to J.S. 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? [103][104][k], Diwali is not a festival for most Buddhists, with the exception of the Newar people of Nepal who revere various deities in Vajrayana Buddhism and celebrate Diwali by offering prayers to Lakshmi. This year, celebrations began on Saturday, with the "main Diwali " falling today, Monday October 24, which marks the . In Sri Lanka and. [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. It celebrates the sister-brother bond, similar in spirit to Raksha Bandhan but it is the brother that travels to meet the sister and her family. For example, the Singaporean government, in association with the Hindu Endowment Board of Singapore, organises many cultural events during Diwali every year. [9][10][11] It is a post-harvest festival celebrating the bounty following the arrival of the monsoon in the subcontinent.[12]. [185] When these compounds pollute the air, they increase the risk of cancer in people. Diwali Celebrations Dates in Different Regions Diwali 2023 (Deepavali 2023) is on Sunday, November 12th in India. In 2022, Diwali will begin on October 22, and end on October 26. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . 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. More Topics This day marks the beginning of deepawali celebrations. A 2017 estimate states 50,000 tons (100million pounds) of fireworks are exploded annually in India over the Diwali festival. When is Diwali? [167] In 2020, the INDF ETF was launched to mark the start of Diwali. "The first day . amnta / primnta. [129] At dusk, family members gather for the Lakshmi Pujan,[129] although prayers will also be offered to other deities, such as Ganesha, Saraswati, Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Hanuman, or Kubera. However you celebrate Diwali, Denver's growing Indian food scene offers a rich culinary experience for those who enjoy fresh ingredients, diverse textures, and complex combinations of spices from the South Asian subcontinent. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. [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. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? It is celebrated for five days across India and other parts of southern Asia, as well as in many other places around the world. In 2013, about 25 billion (US$310million) of fireworks were sold to merchants for the Diwali season, an equivalent retail value of about 50 billion (US$630million) according to The Times of India. One particular firework called anar (fountain) has been found to be responsible for 65% of such injuries, with adults being the typical victims. Diwali is also an important festival in Jainism. 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. Lasting over five days, the holiday is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs worldwide. Grewal, a scholar of Sikhism and Sikh history, Diwali in the Sikh tradition is older than the sixth Guru Hargobind legend. 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. This time the revered festival of Diwali is to be held on the month of October 24, 2022. 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). However, in South India, the festival is observed as the defeat of Narakasura. It is observed by the Vajrayana Buddhist minority among the Newarpeople of Nepal. [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. Diwali always falls some time between October and November, but the exact date varies each year as the Hindu calendar is based on the Moon. The festivities vary between different regions. 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). [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. [56], Diwali was also described by numerous travelers from outside India. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . These two festivals likely developed in tandem over their recent histories, states McDermott. 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. 2. In 2019, Diwali started on October 25 as reported by The Fact. [117] Some Hindus observe Yama Deepa on the second night before the main day of Diwali.[118][119]. While Diwali spans five days, the holiday reaches its peak on day three this year, falling on Oct. 24, 2022. [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. To learn more, visit ISA's Instagram. "[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. [115][144][145], The agricultural symbolism is also observed on this day by many Hindus as Annakut, literally "mountain of food". [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. What are the 5 Diwali Days in 2022? [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. They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha. Diwali is a five-day religious festival. It's celebrated across five days with the day of Diwali observed on the new moon or Amavasya. Dates for 2020 to 2025." 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. These lamps symbolize the light of inner spirituality that protects us from the spiritual darkness that threatens to engulf us. 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. [116] On this day, many Hindus clean their homes and business premises. [114][43][82] On the evening of Dhanteras, families offer prayers (puja) to Lakshmi and Ganesha, and lay offerings of puffed rice, candy toys, rice cakes and batashas (hollow sugar cakes). He has written several books about Hinduism for children and young adults. The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. 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. At such events a variety of music, dance and arts performances, food, crafts, and cultural celebrations are featured. Diwali is the Indian "festival of lights"a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi. The one festival in India that is celebrated above the caste & religion that is Diwali. (2021, September 4). [13][14][93][94], A scholar of Jain and Nivethan, states that in Jain tradition, Diwali is celebrated in observance of "Mahavira Nirvana Divas", the physical death and final nirvana of Mahavira. The Diwali night's lights and firecrackers, in this interpretation, represent a celebratory and symbolic farewell to the departed ancestral souls. When is Navaratri in 2021, 2022, and 2023? [112] [o] The looms, tools of trade, machines and workplaces are cleaned and prayers offered to these livelihood means. Diwali is observed as a Gazetted Holiday throughout the nation. The third day is Diwali and the height of the festival. [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. In other regions, parents invite a newly married daughter, or son, together with their spouses to a festive meal and give them gifts. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. Ths festival of lights, i.e. 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. Some Muslims joined the Hindu community in celebrating Diwali in the Mughal era. [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. 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 . Each day of the festival has special significance. The Prayer Hymn (Aarti) for the Hindu Diwali Celebration, Hindu Calendar: Days, Months, Years and Epochs, The Real Reason for the Hindu Raksha Bandhan Celebration, History and Significance of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, Reasons to Celebrate Diwali the Festival of Lights, Calendar of Hindu Festivals, Fasts, and Religious Events 20202025, The History of Vasant Panchami, the Birth of Hindu Goddess Saraswati, A Guide to the 6 Seasons of the Hindu Calendar, A Guide to Lohri, The Hindu Winter Bonfire Festival, Evaluating Population Exposure to Environmental Pollutants During Deepavali Fireworks Displays Using Air Quality Measurements of the Safar Network, Whose Diwali Is It? 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. Diwali is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. This year, the biggest day of festivities (Lakshmi Puja) will take place on November 4, 2021. [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. Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of Kartik which is considered as the most serene months according to the Hindu Lunar calendar. [171][172] Since 2009, Diwali has been celebrated every year at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister. A variety of entertainments are usually available for inhabitants of the local community to enjoy. [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". 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. 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. It takes place on November 26 this year. Furthermore, when specifying the masa, one of two traditions are applicable, viz. The exact dates change each year but this year, Diwali falls on Monday 24 October. [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. [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. Make sure you check the dates online if you plan on visiting India during Diwali. 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. However, the focus of the Jain Diwali remains the dedication to Mahavira. Learn Religions. [183] These invisible yet harmful particles affect the environment and in turn, put people's health at stake. This year, Diwali begins on Monday 24 October on the Gregorian calendar. The main festival day falls on a different date each autumn, timed to the Hindu lunar calendar, but it . [28][29][30], Diwali is also a major cultural event for the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain diaspora. Each day of Diwali is marked differently. Corrections? 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. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [50] It is mentioned in mentioned in early Sanskrit texts, such as the Padma Purana and the Skanda Purana, both of which were completed in the second half of the 1st millennium CE. 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. The dates of Diwali change every year as it dependent on the moon cycle. Many participate in other socio-political events as a symbol of support for diversity and inclusiveness. In 2023, Diwali will be celebrated on 19th October (Sunday). Indian Independence Day Independence Day is celebrated every year during August 15. * [75][76] Another early 13th-century Sanskrit stone inscription, written in the Devanagari script, has been found in the north end of a mosque pillar in Jalore, Rajasthan evidently built using materials from a demolished Jain temple. It is in fact the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksh, the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik. each day of the five-day Diwali comes with a different set of traditions. Where does Diwali get its name? Here is everything you need to know about the festival and how it is celebrated. The inscription states that Ramachandracharya built and dedicated a drama performance hall, with a golden cupola, on Diwali. The third day is the day of Lakshmi Puja and the darkest night of the traditional month. 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. 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. 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. Sainsbury's bans fireworks across . Important Read: Tips to Celebrate Diwali in 2021 History and Significance of Diwali Diwali is celebrated for five days, each with its own special significance. One of the earliest reports on this variation was by Wilson in 1847. Some suggest he lived in the 5th-century BCE contemporaneously with the Buddha. (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) 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. There are many stories around the celebration of 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. Bhalla said the dates change each year based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but typically happens in October and November. [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. They install diyas, small earthen oil-filled lamps that they light up for the next five days, near Lakshmi and Ganesha iconography. 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). Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. In 2021, Diwali is on November 4. It is a day in which people rid themselves of evil and everything negative. [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]. Diwali, also known as Deepavali, falls on 4 November this year. 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. People will wear their best clothes and pray to Lakshmi as lamps are lit outside homes and temples. [125], Some Hindus observe Yama Deepam (also known as Yama Dipadana or Jam ke Diya) on the second day of Diwali, instead of the first day. Naraka Chaturdashi is also a major day for purchasing festive foods, particularly sweets. [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. Shopkeepers and small operations perform puja rituals in their office premises. 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. Das, Subhamoy. Facts about Diwali 1) Diwali is an important religious festival originating in India. This year it was from November 5th-9th and in 2019 it will be October 25-29th. The Diwali festival actually runs for five days, with the main event happening on the third day in most places in India. Holi Dates: When is Holi in 2021, 2022 and 2023? The day of Diwali itself falls on November 4.. Lakshmi is the focus of worship on that day. Diwali Dates Detailed Information [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. People often think of Diwali as a Hindu festival, but it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains . [19] Diwali is also marked with fireworks and the decoration of floors with rangoli designs, and other parts of the house with jhalars. Dates for 2020 to 2025. [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".
Gemini Compatibility With Virgo,
Who Is The Grattan Institute Named After,
Small Wedding Venues Virginia,
Articles W