Answer (1 of 6): Hindus do not follow date system. The celebration of Diwali aligns with the new moon, so it's celebrated on a different day each year. It is traditionally a puja, or a celebration that worships, honors, and shows devotion to the divine. They install diyas, small earthen oil-filled lamps that they light up for the next five days, near Lakshmi and Ganesha iconography. Diwali is celebrated for almost five days consecutively. The name of this festival is derived from 'avali,' which means 'row,' and 'deepa,' meaning "clay lamps." The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahaviras holy knowledge. [123], This day is commonly celebrated as Diwali in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka. In other regions, parents invite a newly married daughter, or son, together with their spouses to a festive meal and give them gifts. The women, in particular, adorn themselves in colourful attire and decorate their hands with henna. In South India the festival marks Krishnas defeat of the demon Narakasura. [15][131][132] After the puja, people go outside and celebrate by lighting up patakhe (fireworks) together, and then share a family feast and mithai (sweets, desserts). The day before Diwali is remembered as Naraka Chaturdasi, the day on which Narakasura was killed by Krishna. [134], On the night of Diwali, rituals across much of India are dedicated to Lakshmi to welcome her into their cleaned homes and bring prosperity and happiness for the coming year. For example, the Singaporean government, in association with the Hindu Endowment Board of Singapore, organises many cultural events during Diwali every year. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Das, Subhamoy. [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. 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. This year, Diwali or Deepavali will take place on October 24. On that day sisters pray for the success and well-being of their brothers. The five day festival falls in the first week of Novmber. Diwali, the festival of lights, is a religious observance commemorated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists around the world. [117] Some Hindus observe Yama Deepa on the second night before the main day of Diwali.[118][119]. [80], Per another popular tradition, in the Dvapara Yuga period, Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, killed the demon Narakasura, who was the evil king of Pragjyotishapura, near present-day Assam, and released 16000 girls held captive by Narakasura. "[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. [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]. In 2022, the five days of Diwali begin on October 22, with the most important festival date taking place on October 24. [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. The Lacshmipuja dipanwita, remarked Jones, was a "great festival at night, in honour of Lakshmi, with illuminations on trees and houses".[68][f]. Symbolising the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness, Diwali usually falls in the early autumn, coinciding with the new moon, deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunar calendar. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426 (accessed March 4, 2023). [109] Textual evidence suggests that Bengali Hindus worshipped Lakshmi before the colonial era, and that the Kali puja is a more recent phenomenon. This year, the biggest day of festivities (Lakshmi Puja) will take place on November 4, 2021. On this day, Lord Dhanwantari came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic for mankind. Hence Deepavali has been . ", Some inscriptions mention the festival of lights in Prakrit terms such as, The Sanskrit inscription is in the Grantha script. [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 event is free and UCF students of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend. It coincides with the new moon (amvasy) and is deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunisolar calendar. It is a time when families come together, friends are reunited and everyone celebrates the triumph of good over evil. [77][78][i], The religious significance of Diwali varies regionally within India. Diwali celebrates Rama's eventual defeat of the evil spirit Ravana, and his triumphant return to his home. [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. Some suggest he lived in the 5th-century BCE contemporaneously with the Buddha. Diwali is an important festival in Jainism. Diwali Celebrations Dates in Different Regions Diwali 2023 (Deepavali 2023) is on Sunday, November 12th in India. Kartik overlaps with October and November. 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. 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. Diwali also known as Deepavali is the . Ubtan is applied by the women which is made up of special gram flour mixed with herbs for cleansing and beautifying themselves. 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]. [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. Diwali is also known as the 'Festival of Light' because it is celebrated using lights, fireworks and lanterns in private homes and public places. Some 200,000 New Yorkers celebrate Diwali each year, per state Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar . A variety of sweets are prepared using flour, semolina, rice, chickpea flour, dry fruit pieces powders or paste, milk solids (mawa or khoya) and clarified butter (ghee). Also known as the 'festival of lights', the celebration usually lasts for five days. [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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. This is the day when Hindu, Jain and Sikh temples and homes are aglow with lights, thereby making it the "festival of lights". Where does Diwali get its name? Amavasya is thought of as the darkest night of the year and is holy to Hindus. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426. Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi Devi is worshipped on this day and it is customary to purchase precious articles. This celebration lasts five days and takes place during the Hindu lunisolar month, Kartika. Indian Independence Day Independence Day is celebrated every year during August 15. We usually plan for our parents to visit us during this period but the pandemic has made it difficult this year for everyone. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. 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. In Sri Lanka and. This is why dates change every year. The exact dates change each year because it follows the lunar calendar, but it is typically celebrated in October or November over a 5-day span: On day. But when Diwali occurs in the calendar changes every year. The second day, called NarakaChaturdashiorChotiDiwali, commemorates Krishnas destruction of Narakasura; prayers are also offered for the souls of ancestors. Here is everything you need to know about the festival and how it is celebrated. 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 determined by the Indian calendar and the dates of celebration change every year. [135] Vaishnava families recite Hindu legends of the victory of good over evil and the return of hope after despair on the Diwali night, where the main characters may include Rama, Krishna, Vamana or one of the avatars of Vishnu, the divine husband of Lakshmi. It began sending official greetings and message to Muslims in 1967 on. Diwali for the year 2022 is observed on 24 October, which falls on a Monday. Diwali celebrations can last for about five days. [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". Omissions? [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. (2021, September 4). This year, celebrations began on Saturday, with the "main Diwali " falling today, Monday October 24, which marks the . The exact date changes every year because the Hindu calendar is lunar. 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. [112] [o] The looms, tools of trade, machines and workplaces are cleaned and prayers offered to these livelihood means. 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. [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. 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. [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. People often think of Diwali as a Hindu festival, but it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains . Diwali is known as the festival of lights in India. They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha. Every year it is celebrated on the darkest night of the Hindu month Kartika. [50] In 2022, Diwali falls on October 24th which is a new moon day or Amavasya. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on October 24. Diwali Diwali (or Deepawali, Deepavali) is an ancient Hindu festival that is celebrated in autumn every year. In 2023, it falls on a Sunday, and some businesses may choose to follow Sunday opening hours. This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. . * Diwali is the biggest holiday of the year in India. Some Muslims joined the Hindu community in celebrating Diwali in the Mughal era. Diwali/Deepavali is a public holiday. Because Diwali is such a meaningful celebration, festivities are often planned years in advance. Diwali is also an important festival in Jainism. 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. The Hindu lunar calendar has two parts: dark (Krishna paksha, or "waning moon" in Sanskrit) and light (hukla paksha, or "waxing moon"), and the new moon (amavasya) always occurs in between the parts, typically on the 15th. It's the holiday season and Diwali is around the corner. Merchants perform religious ceremonies and open new account books. The word "Deepavali" means "a row of lights" in Sanskrit, and its origins were likely as an ancient harvest festival. Every year Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains around the world celebrate the Indian Festival of Lights called Diwali. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It is a day in which people rid themselves of evil and everything negative. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. [169][r], Many governments encourage or sponsor Diwali-related festivities in their territories. They also spend time with family and friends to enjoy good food and fireworks. Diwali is also known as Deepavali, Dipavali, Dewali, Deepawali, or the Festival of Lights. [140] According to Handelman and Shulman, as quoted by Pintchman, this legend is a Hindu metaphor for the cosmic process for creation and dissolution of the world through the masculine destructive power, as represented by Shiva, and the feminine procreative power, represented by Parvati, where twelve reflects the number of months in the cyclic year, while thirty are the number of days in its lunisolar month. Though technically religious, it's also become a cultural event in North America that's celebrated with sweets and special foods. 2. [124][128] Shops either do not open or close early on this day allowing employees to enjoy family time. 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. Sometimes these are wrapped with edible silver foil (vark). The fifth day, called Bhai Dooj, Bhai Tika, or Bhai Bij, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. This year's festival begins on Oct. 22. [92][12], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali has transcended religious lines. Diwali is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. In Australia, over one million Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs celebrate versions of the festival, which include Tihar and Bandi Chhor Diwas. Each day of the festival has special significance. 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. "The first day . The five days are as follows:. "Deepawali" and "Dipawali" redirect here. For planning purposes, here are the dates for the main celebrations for Diwali for the next few years: 2019: Sunday, October 27 (starts on October 25, ends on October 29) 2020: Saturday, November 14 (November 12-16) 2021: Thursday, November 4 (November 2-6) 2022: Monday, October 24 (October 22-26) 2023: Wednesday, November 7 (November 5-9) [20][45] The term is derived from the Sanskrit words dpa, "lamp, light, lantern, candle, that which glows, shines, illuminates or knowledge"[46] and vali, "a row, range, continuous line, series". [181][182], The use of firecrackers on Diwali increases the concentration of dust and pollutants in the air. Sikhs historically referred to this festival as Diwali. These two festivals likely developed in tandem over their recent histories, states McDermott. This year, it begins in the first week of November from 2nd-6th. Amavasya Tithi on Diwali begins at. Hindus celebrating Diwali in India. [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. [23] Another aspect of the festival is remembering the ancestors. Make sure you check the dates online if you plan on visiting India during Diwali. Shopkeepers and small operations perform puja rituals in their office premises. The darkest night is the apex of the celebration and coincides with the second half of October or early November in the Gregorian calendar. Important Read: Tips to Celebrate Diwali in 2021 History and Significance of Diwali The festivals and . This time the revered festival of Diwali is to be held on the month of October 24, 2022. One tradition links the festival to legends in the Hindu epic Ramayana, where Diwali is the day Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman reached Ayodhya after a period of 14 years in exile after Rama's army of good defeated demon king Ravana's army of evil. 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. 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. [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. 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 day of Diwali itself falls on November 4.. For Jains, it is a time to celebrate Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, and the moment reached a state of enlightenment. Diwali is the Indian "festival of lights"a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Updates? 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. [47][b], The five-day celebration is observed every year in early autumn after the conclusion of the summer harvest. For Sikhs, the celebration highlights the release of guru Hargobind Singh from prison and his return to Amritsar. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. This year, Diwali begins on Monday 24 October on the Gregorian calendar. [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. The festivities vary between different regions. . Diwali is observed on the day of Amavasya or the new moon and marks the start of the Hindu New Year. amnta / primnta. What is Diwali? [79] Throughout the epic, Rama's decisions were always in line with dharma (duty) and the Diwali festival serves as a reminder for followers of hinduism to maintain their dharma in day to day life. [110] Some regions of India start Diwali festivities the day before Dhanteras with Govatsa Dwadashi. The day of Diwali itself falls on November 4. The one festival in India that is celebrated above the caste & religion that is Diwali. [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. The devotion and dedication of Hanuman pleased Rama so much that he blessed Hanuman to be worshipped before him. In some communities, husbands will give gifts to their wives, while in others parents with newly married children invite them and their spouses to enjoy a meal and receive gifts. It's celebrated across five days with the day of Diwali observed on the new moon or Amavasya. 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. This is believed to please Yama, the god of death, and to ward off untimely death. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. 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. Diwali was celebrated as a signifier of triumph of good over evil after Krishna's Victory over Narakasura. 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. 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). The third day is Diwali and the height of the festival. Diwali or Deepavali - "The festival of lights" is one of the most important festivals for Hindus. Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune and prosperity, is the primary deity worshiped during Diwali. 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. When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023? It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and an even deeper meaning is to drive away our inner darkness with light. Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator, fact-checker and author of the thrift shopping book. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. [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. [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. 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. 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. Learn Religions. 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. According to Truschke, Aurangzeb did so because he found the festivals "distasteful" and also from "concerns with public safety" lurking in the background. [120] The term "chhoti" means little, while "Naraka" means hell and "Chaturdashi" means "fourteenth". Lasting over five days, the holiday is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs worldwide. [98][99] This traditional belief of the origin of Diwali, and its significance to Jains, is reflected in their historic artworks such as paintings. Some celebrate Diwali as a commemoration of the marriage of Lakshmi and Vishnu, while othersobserve it as the birthday of Lakshmi. 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. When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Calendar Of Deepavali Holidays 2022.We present you with all the dates Diwali will have from 2022 till 2040. Diwali, which is celebrated on different dates each year as it follows the lunar calendar, will begin on October 24 this year and last for five days. [91] The telling of these myths are reminiscent of the Hindu belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil. 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. People illuminate their homes, temples and offices with diyas, candles and lanterns. The Diwali festival dates back to ancient times in India. [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. Each day has a special significance as follows. 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. [12][114] Families also prepare homemade delicacies for Lakshmi Pujan, regarded as the main day of Diwali. 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. Diwali as a new-moon day, marks the last day of a 15-day period. [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. 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. Diwali is celebrated every year in either October or November, based on the lunar cycle. A Hindu devotee lights oil lamps at a temple during . The height of Diwali is celebrated on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of Ashvin or Kartika. 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. Diwali is the symbol of the victory of good over evil, of hope over despair and of knowledge over ignorance. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating from the fourth century CE but was likely practiced for many hundreds of years before that. Subhamoy Das is the co-author of "Applied Hinduism: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World." Fireworks are often set off in the evening to celebrate Diwali. The legislation will come into effect next year, and Diwali will replace Anniversary Day, which is also known as Brooklyn-Queens Day, so that schools can still deliver the 180-day requirement of . Diwali's date is determined by the India calendar and changes every year, ranging from October to November. Scholars contest the 527 BCE date and consider Mahavira's biographical details as uncertain. However, in South India, the festival is observed as the defeat of Narakasura. The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. To produce colors when crackers are burst, carcinogenic and poisonous elements are used. The common celebratory practices are known as the festival of light, however there are minor differences from state to state in India. 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? [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. Spiritually, Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Dates for 2020 to 2025. Each day has a different name and rituals. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. 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.
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