Shopkeepers and small operations perform puja rituals in their office premises. On that day sisters pray for the success and well-being of their brothers. 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). This day marks the beginning of deepawali celebrations. In 2022, Diwali will begin on October 22, and end on October 26. [12][114] Families also prepare homemade delicacies for Lakshmi Pujan, regarded as the main day of Diwali. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Spiritually, Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Since the 18th century, Diwali has been celebrated in Sikhism as the time of Guru Hargobinds return to Amritsar from captivity in Gwalior, an echo of Lord Ramas return to Ayodhya. Every occasion represents two main things: 1. [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. He has written several books about Hinduism for children and young adults. This legend is remembered through the ritual of building small mountain-like miniatures from cow dung. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. It is commemorated on the 15th day of Kartik, the Hindu calendar's holiest month. Forget bitterness. The third day is the day of Lakshmi Puja and the darkest night of the traditional month. 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. Diwali is the Indian "festival of lights"a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Diwali is the Festival of Lights, observed by Indian communities around the world. [50] It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. Diwali takes places every year, either in October or November, depending on the position of the Moon. 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. 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 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. The celebration will include dancing, a fashion show and other performances, as well as free food. [43], The puja and rituals in the Bengali Hindu community focus on Kali, the goddess of war, instead of Lakshmi. Each day of Diwali is marked differently. Amavasya Tithi on Diwali begins at. Also known as the festival of lights, it's celebrated by Sikhs, Hindus, Jains and some Buddhists. In other regions, parents invite a newly married daughter, or son, together with their spouses to a festive meal and give them gifts. [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. Corrections? It is celebrated in October or November each year. Diwali festivities usually last for 5 days. Firecrackers also cause light pollution. 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. [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. [114], According to Tracy Pintchman, Dhanteras is a symbol of annual renewal, cleansing and an auspicious beginning for the next year. It was in early 20th-century, states Harjot Oberoi, a scholar of Sikh history, when the Khalsa Tract Society triggered by the, Hindus of eastern and northeastern states of India associate the festival with the goddess. It coincides with the day of Kali Chaudas. Some celebrate Diwali as a commemoration of the marriage of Lakshmi and Vishnu, while othersobserve it as the birthday of Lakshmi. 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. Many participate in other socio-political events as a symbol of support for diversity and inclusiveness. A lunar half-month is 15 days. The dates of Diwali change every year as it dependent on the moon cycle. [147] In historic times, this was a day in autumn when brothers would travel to meet their sisters, or invite their sister's family to their village to celebrate their sister-brother bond with the bounty of seasonal harvests. It is celebrated for five days across India and other parts of southern Asia, as well as in many other places around the world. The festival typically lasts for four to five days and coincides with the new moon on the Hindu lunisolar calendar,. Diwali is observed on the day of Amavasya or the new moon and marks the start of the Hindu New Year. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. The exact date changes every year because the Hindu calendar is lunar. DIWALI. The one festival in India that is celebrated above the caste & religion that is Diwali. A lunar day is uniquely identified by three calendar elements: msa (lunar month), paka (lunar fortnight) and tithi (lunar day). Diwali is generally a time for visiting, exchanging gifts, wearing new clothes, feasting, feeding the poor, and setting off fireworks (though such displays have been restricted to limit noise and other environmental pollution). Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. Furthermore, when specifying the masa, one of two traditions are applicable, viz. Dipa oil lamps are often lit for Diwali celebrations. 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. 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. 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. The main festival day falls on a different date each autumn, timed to the Hindu lunar calendar, but it . A lunar year varies in length, each month containing approximately 29.5 days (354 days) depending on the moon's movement with respect to the earth. For example, the Singaporean government, in association with the Hindu Endowment Board of Singapore, organises many cultural events during Diwali every year. What makes Dev Deepawali different from Diwali? This is why dates change every year. 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). [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. Some diyas may also be set adrift on streams and river and the evening is marked with fireworks. Dhan-trayodashi or Dhan teras: Dhan means "wealth" and Trayodashi means "thirteenth day." Thus, as the name . [117] Some Hindus observe Yama Deepa on the second night before the main day of Diwali.[118][119]. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. Diwali along with Holi for Hindus, and Easter for Christians, was adopted as public holiday resolution by Pakistan's parliament in 2016, giving the local governments and public institutions the right to declare Holi as a holiday and grant leave for its minority communities, for the first time. The day of Diwali itself falls on November 4. Every year Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains around the world celebrate the Indian Festival of Lights called Diwali. Although most important for Hindus, the festival is also observed by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. [23][140] According to one tradition, the day is associated with the story of Bali's defeat at the hands of Vishnu. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. When is Navaratri in 2021, 2022, and 2023? Diwali 2021: What the holiday . The duration will be 1 hour 56 minutes. [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. 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. Diwali (Deepavali) Nov 27, 2023: Guru Nanak's Birthday: Dec 25, 2023: Christmas Day: Which are the other holidays in India? Hence Deepavali has been . Diaspora, Identity, and Festivalization, The Festival of 'Deepavali' as Marks of Tradition and Identity for Working, Married Hindu Women: Continuity and Change, Celebrations as Social Investments: Festival Expenditures, Unit Price Variation, and Social Status in Rural India, M.A., English Literature, University of North Bengal. Diwali is also known as the 'Festival of Light' because it is celebrated using lights, fireworks and lanterns in private homes and public places. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. Small business owners give gifts or special bonus payments to their employees between Dhanteras and Lakshmi Pujan. [56], Diwali was also described by numerous travelers from outside 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? The dates change each year because they are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but it typically happens in October and November. Because the festival of Diwali is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, the dates are different each year. Each day has the following rituals and significance:[43], Dhanteras, derived from Dhan meaning wealth and teras meaning thirteenth, marks the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin or Kartik and the beginning of Diwali in most parts of India. Diwali's date is determined by the India calendar and changes every year, ranging from October to November. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. The festival falls sometime between October and November. In 2019, Diwali started on October 25 as reported by The Fact. (2021, September 4). Diwali is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartika and, much like Easter, the date changes every year. At such events a variety of music, dance and arts performances, food, crafts, and cultural celebrations are featured. The Lacshmipuja dipanwita, remarked Jones, was a "great festival at night, in honour of Lakshmi, with illuminations on trees and houses".[68][f]. When people are exposed to these pollutant particles, they may suffer from eye, nose, and throat-related problems. [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. Diwali is the symbol of the victory of good over evil, of hope over despair and of knowledge over ignorance. 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. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning row of lights. The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. . [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. [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. Historical records appear inconsistent about the name of the lunar month in which Diwali is observed. Food is a major focus with families partaking in feasts and sharing mithai. 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. The date of the five day festival changes every year in accordance with the Hindu and lunar calendar. [53][54], The five-day long festival originated in the Indian subcontinent and is likely a fusion of harvest festivals in ancient India. Diwali celebrations can last for about five days. The height of Diwali is celebrated on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of Ashvin or Kartika. [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. [126] Family members light up firecrackers, which some interpret as a way to ward off all evil spirits and the inauspicious, as well as add to the festive mood. Every year it is celebrated on the darkest night of the Hindu month Kartika. [116] Some communities, particularly those active in Ayurvedic and health-related professions, pray or perform havan rituals to Dhanvantari on Dhanteras. [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). The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi. Diwali is celebrated every year in either October or November, based on the lunar cycle. Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator, fact-checker and author of the thrift shopping book. The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. [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. Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated religious festivals worldwide, it takes place every year between October and November and it commemorates the spiritual victory of light over darkness. It is traditionally a puja, or a celebration that worships, honors, and shows devotion to the divine. About Diwali. What are the 5 Diwali Days in 2022? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The five day festival falls in the first week of Novmber. [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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Spread joy. "There were a hundred-plus of us at my cousin's house each year," she explains. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is the Hindu festival of lights. Merchants perform religious ceremonies and open new account books. [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". [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. This year, the biggest day of festivities (Lakshmi Puja) will take place on November 4, 2021. [141][142] In another interpretation, it is thought to reference the legend of Parvati and her husband Shiva playing a game of dyuta (dice) on a board of twelve squares and thirty pieces, Parvati wins. [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. But when Diwali occurs in the calendar changes every year. Diwali was celebrated as a signifier of triumph of good over evil after Krishna's Victory over Narakasura. In Sri Lanka and. Das, Subhamoy. [116] On this day, many Hindus clean their homes and business premises. 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. Ritually, in honour of Lakshmi, the female player always wins. Diwali Decor. The day also marks a major shopping day to purchase new utensils, home equipment, jewelry, firecrackers, and other items. 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. Cook, Sharell. It's observed on the 15th day of the month. Diwali/Deepavali is a public holiday. [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. [4] Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Newar Buddhists,[29] although for each faith it marks different historical events and stories, but nonetheless the festival represents the same symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. 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. 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). 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. [61], Islamic historians of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire era also mentioned Diwali and other Hindu festivals. It is a national holiday in India which marks its independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947. iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath What Do People Do? It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating from the fourth century CE but was likely practiced for many hundreds of years before that. 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. The final day is Bhai Dooj and similarly, celebrates the bonds between brothers and sisters. [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. On the eve of his first visit to India as President of the United States, Obama released an official statement sharing his best wishes with "those celebrating Diwali". This celebration lasts five days and takes place during the Hindu lunisolar month, Kartika. It is usually celebrated on October or November every 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. Diwali is also an important festival in Jainism. This year's festival begins on Oct. 22. Major celebrations occur on the third day of the five-day long festival . (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) Kartik overlaps with October and November. This year, Diwali will be on Thursday, Nov. 4. In his 11th-century memoir on India, the Persian traveler and historian Al Biruni wrote of Deepavali being celebrated by Hindus on the day of the New Moon in the month of Kartika. Holi Dates: When is Holi in 2021, 2022 and 2023? Cook, Sharell. 2. [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. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on October 24. In 2021, Diwali is on November 4. 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). Facts about Diwali 1) Diwali is an important religious festival originating in India. Learn Religions, Sep. 4, 2021, learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209. In India, the holiday always falls on the 15th of Kartik, the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar . Diwali celebrations burst into life on the third day of the five day festival of lights, which falls between October and November with a changing date each year. [79], Hindus of eastern India associate the festival with the Goddess Kali, who symbolises the victory of good over evil. [48][127], The youngest members in the family visit their elders, such as grandparents and other senior members of the community, on this day. Diwali for the year 2022 is observed on 24 October, which falls on a Monday. 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. 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 . Some 200,000 New Yorkers celebrate Diwali each year, per state Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar . Das, Subhamoy. Calendar Of Deepavali Holidays 2022.We present you with all the dates Diwali will have from 2022 till 2040. It is intended to signify a brother's duty to protect his sister as well as sisters blessing their brothers. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. [128][95], The day after Diwali is the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik. 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. Diwali usually falls in October or November. For Sikhs, the celebration highlights the release of guru Hargobind Singh from prison and his return to Amritsar. 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. Diwali is celebrated over five days in most of North India. 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. Most of the injuries sustained are Group I type burns (minor) requiring only outpatient care. In 2022, the five days of Diwali begin on October 22, with the most important festival date taking place on October 24. [81], Many Hindus associate the festival with Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and wife of Vishnu. The word Deepawali comes from the Sanskrit word deep, which means an Indian lantern/lamp. [177][s], The use of fireworks also causes an increase in the number of burn injuries in India during 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 . The women, in particular, adorn themselves in colourful attire and decorate their hands with henna. Hit ctrl+D to bookmark this page, and share this page with your friends. [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. To produce colors when crackers are burst, carcinogenic and poisonous elements are used. [12] Chhoti Diwali is also a day for visiting friends, business associates and relatives, and exchanging gifts. [23] Another aspect of the festival is remembering the ancestors. Each day of the festival has special significance. 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. The festival climax is on the third day and is called the main Diwali. 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. ( See calendar ). Diwali is an important festival in Jainism. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426 (accessed March 4, 2023). "When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023?" As the term "Festival of Lights" suggests, the celebration involves millions of lights illuminated from rooftops, doorways, and windows in thousands of temples and buildings all over the countries where the festival is observed. The Prime Minister Jawaharlal . Diwali or Deepavali, also known as the "Festival of Lights," is the biggest festival in theHindu calendar, celebrated in early fall of each year. In Bengal the goddess Kali is worshipped. Diwali, the festival of lights, is a religious observance commemorated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists around the world. The day of Diwali itself falls on November 4.. People often think of Diwali as a Hindu festival, but it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains . 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 year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. . The fourth day has different names in different regions and typically celebrates the marital bond. One tradition starts a new month from the new moon, while the other starts it from the full moon. Diwali is typically a four- or five-day event, starting two days before the new moon and extending two days afterward. These lamps symbolize the light of inner spirituality that protects us from the spiritual darkness that threatens to engulf us. Learn Religions. As an auspicious occasion, many Hindus will make big purchases as it's believed that this will bring good luck. Diwali is observed as a Gazetted Holiday throughout the nation. Confectioners and shops create Diwali-themed decorative displays, selling these in large quantities, which are stocked for home celebrations to welcome guests and as gifts. There are many stories around the celebration of Diwali. 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). Thus, people worship Hanuman the day before Diwali's main day. Each day has a special significance as follows. Naraka Chaturdashi is also a major day for purchasing festive foods, particularly sweets. It is observed on the 15th day of the 8th month (the month of Kartik) in India's calendar. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Bhalla said the dates change each year based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but typically happens in October and November. [92][12], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali has transcended religious lines. A solar calendar (like the Gregorian one) has an average of 365.24 days.