( See calendar ). . 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. (2021, September 4). In South India the festival marks Krishnas defeat of the demon Narakasura. Diwali is the Indian "festival of lights"a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. [110] Some regions of India start Diwali festivities the day before Dhanteras with Govatsa Dwadashi. 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. 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). Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator, fact-checker and author of the thrift shopping book. [92][12], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali has transcended religious lines. It takes place on November 26 this year. 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 . The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. The exact dates change each year but this year, Diwali falls on Monday 24 October. The word "avali" means row and "deepa . The holiday overlaps with the Hindu New Year and as a result is associated with a chance to reset and start anew. 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. The Diwali festival dates back to ancient times in India. Diwali is the Festival of Lights, observed by Indian communities around the world. 5 Days of Diwali in India - timesproperty.com The women, in particular, adorn themselves in colourful attire and decorate their hands with henna. [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. [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. 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. [128][95], The day after Diwali is the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik. It's a one-day celebration, known as Deepavali, that usually falls a day before the main Diwali date but sometimes occurs on the same day (when the lunar days overlap). Complete guide to visiting India during Diwali - Explore With Lora The meaning of Diwaliand its many legends Diwali is so widely. [114], According to Tracy Pintchman, Dhanteras is a symbol of annual renewal, cleansing and an auspicious beginning for the next year. In other regions, parents invite a newly married daughter, or son, together with their spouses to a festive meal and give them gifts. Omissions? This day marks the beginning of deepawali celebrations. It is the main day of the Diwali festival. Everything to Know About Diwali, the 'Festival of Lights' [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". A variety of entertainments are usually available for inhabitants of the local community to enjoy. Each day of the festival has special significance. This means that Diwali kicks off on Oct. 22 and is celebrated through Oct. 26,. What Is Diwali and How Do You Celebrate Hindu Festival of Lights? Naraka Chaturdashi is also a major day for purchasing festive foods, particularly sweets. [100], Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas in remembrance of the release of Guru Hargobind from the Gwalior Fort prison by the Mughal emperor Jahangir and the day he arrived at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. 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. Diwali in 2023/2024 - When, Where, Why, How is Celebrated? 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. 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. Though technically religious, it's also become a cultural event in North America that's celebrated with sweets and special foods. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. Some 200,000 New Yorkers celebrate Diwali each year, per state Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar . Holi Dates: When is Holi in 2021, 2022 and 2023? Such events are also mentioned in Sikh historical records. [143][147], The day celebrates the sibling bond between brother and sister. Earlier in the season's fortnight, some welcome the souls of their ancestors to join the family for the festivities with the Mahalaya. Importance of Diwali Festival and Its Significance | About Diwali "There were a hundred-plus of us at my cousin's house each year," she explains. The celebration will include dancing, a fashion show and other performances, as well as free food. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Although not a primary festival of Buddhism, Diwali is celebrated by some Buddhists as a commemoration of the day when Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE. DEV DEEPAWALI - November 26, 2023 - National Today [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. [120] The term "chhoti" means little, while "Naraka" means hell and "Chaturdashi" means "fourteenth". 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. 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. It is a national holiday in India which marks its independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947. [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. Ths festival of lights, i.e. Today it is the "festival of lights," attached to various mythological stories, particularly tales about Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. When Is Diwali 2021 and How Is the Festival of Lights Celebrated? Amavasya is thought of as the darkest night of the year and is holy to Hindus. [41], Diwali (English: /dwli/)[9] or Divali[44] is from the Sanskrit dpvali meaning "row or series of lights". Diwali was not a public holiday in Pakistan from 1947 to 2016. He has written several books about Hinduism for children and young adults. What is Diwali and how is it celebrated? | BBC Good Food Grewal, a scholar of Sikhism and Sikh history, Diwali in the Sikh tradition is older than the sixth Guru Hargobind legend. 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]. Diwali is celebrated for almost five days consecutively. This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. . Ritually, in honour of Lakshmi, the female player always wins. [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. The festival of Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom after defeating Ravana. What is Diwali? All About the 2022 Festival of Lights Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. 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). Updates? [79] The festival formally begins two days before the night of Diwali, and ends two days thereafter. People will wear their best clothes and pray to Lakshmi as lamps are lit outside homes and temples. 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. [171][172] Since 2009, Diwali has been celebrated every year at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister. [116] Some communities, particularly those active in Ayurvedic and health-related professions, pray or perform havan rituals to Dhanvantari on Dhanteras. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. It is usually celebrated on October or November every year. Diwali/Deepavali is a public holiday. 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. The festival isn't celebrated in Kerala though. Diwali is celebrated for five days, each with its own special significance. [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. In 2022, Diwali is on Monday 24 October. [101] According to J.S. 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. [60] It is mentioned in the Ramayana that Diwali was celebrated for only 2 years in Ayodhya. In 2019, Diwali started on October 25 as reported by The Fact. At such events a variety of music, dance and arts performances, food, crafts, and cultural celebrations are featured. amnta / primnta. It is observed on the 15th day of the 8th month (the month of Kartik) in India's calendar. Diwali 2020: What is the festival of lights and how is it celebrated? Diwali will become an official holiday on school calendars in New York [n] Vishwakarma is the presiding Hindu deity for those in architecture, building, manufacturing, textile work and crafts trades. The reason Diwali's celebration date is different each year is that each of the Hindu calendarsthere are severalis lunisolar, meaning they take into effect both the movements of the sun and the moon. A 2017 estimate states 50,000 tons (100million pounds) of fireworks are exploded annually in India over the Diwali festival. [183] These invisible yet harmful particles affect the environment and in turn, put people's health at stake. (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) Cook, Sharell. Diwali for the year 2022 is observed on 24 October, which falls on a Monday. This time the revered festival of Diwali is to be held on the month of October 24, 2022. [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). Some suggest he lived in the 5th-century BCE contemporaneously with the Buddha. This legend is remembered through the ritual of building small mountain-like miniatures from cow dung. They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha. DIWALI - Changes Annually - National Day Calendar 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). Sainsbury's bans fireworks across . 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. It is observed by the Vajrayana Buddhist minority among the Newarpeople of Nepal. It is in fact the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksh, the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik. [23][140] According to one tradition, the day is associated with the story of Bali's defeat at the hands of Vishnu. A lunar day is uniquely identified by three calendar elements: msa (lunar month), paka (lunar fortnight) and tithi (lunar day). However, in South India, the festival is observed as the defeat of Narakasura. When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [23] Some Hindus, Jains and Sikhs will send Diwali greeting cards to family near and far during the festive season, occasionally with boxes of Indian confectionery. [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. [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. 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. Calendar Of Deepavali Holidays 2022.We present you with all the dates Diwali will have from 2022 till 2040. The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahaviras holy knowledge. When is Diwali celebrated every year? - Quora When is Diwali 2022? What to know the festival of lights - Deseret News [117] Some Hindus observe Yama Deepa on the second night before the main day of Diwali.[118][119]. Major temples and homes are decorated with lights, festive foods shared with all, friends and relatives remembered and visited with gifts. This is the day when Hindu, Jain and Sikh temples and homes are aglow with lights, thereby making it the "festival of lights". You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. The dates of Diwali change every year, though the five day festival generally falls between late October and early November. While Diwali spans five days, the holiday reaches its peak on day three this year, falling on Oct. 24, 2022. Diwali 2021: When is the festival of lights and how is it celebrated All the days except Diwali are named using the designation in the Indian calendar. We usually plan for our parents to visit us during this period but the pandemic has made it difficult this year for everyone. Why do Hindu festivals fall on different dates every year? [109] Textual evidence suggests that Bengali Hindus worshipped Lakshmi before the colonial era, and that the Kali puja is a more recent phenomenon. On the third day, Lakshmi Puja, families seek blessings from Lakshmi to ensure their prosperity; light diyas, candles, and fireworks; andvisittemples. They follow thithi which is based on the movement of planets and Sun. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The Lacshmipuja dipanwita, remarked Jones, was a "great festival at night, in honour of Lakshmi, with illuminations on trees and houses".[68][f]. 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? [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.