[58] The Venetian merchant and traveler Niccol de' Conti visited India in the early 15th-century and wrote in his memoir, "on another of these festivals they fix up within their temples, and on the outside of the roofs, an innumerable number of oil lamps which are kept burning day and night" and that the families would gather, "clothe themselves in new garments", sing, dance and feast. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning row of lights. The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Diwali is typically a four- or five-day event, starting two days before the new moon and extending two days afterward. "When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023?" [117] Some Hindus observe Yama Deepa on the second night before the main day of Diwali.[118][119]. [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. A variety of entertainments are usually available for inhabitants of the local community to enjoy. 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. Diwali, also spelled Divali, one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, lasting for five days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina to the second day of the light half of the lunar month Karttika. The dates for Diwali change each year, as they are based on the Hindu lunisolar calendar. Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune and prosperity, is the primary deity worshiped during Diwali. (2021, September 4). [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. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is the Hindu festival of lights. The Diwali night's lights and firecrackers, in this interpretation, represent a celebratory and symbolic farewell to the departed ancestral souls. 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. [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. Bhalla said the dates change each year based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but typically happens in October and November. DIWALI - Changes Annually - National Day Calendar Lasting over five days, the holiday is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs worldwide. However, the focus of the Jain Diwali remains the dedication to Mahavira. The darkest night is the apex of the celebration and coincides with the second half of October or early November in the Gregorian calendar. Diwali is the biggest holiday of the year in India. Diwali is celebrated over five days in most of North India. DIWALI - October 24, 2023 - National Today Corrections? The Diwali festival dates back to ancient times in India. [140] It is regionally called Annakut (heap of grain), Padwa, Goverdhan puja, Bali Pratipada, Bali Padyami, Kartik Shukla Pratipada and other names. The final day is Bhai Dooj and similarly, celebrates the bonds between brothers and sisters. * This celebration lasts five days and takes place during the Hindu lunisolar month, Kartika. This year, Diwali falls at the start of November beginning with Dhanteras on November 2. 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. Diwali | Definition & Facts | Britannica [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. Shiva surrenders his shirt and adornments to her, rendering him naked. Because Diwali is such a meaningful celebration, festivities are often planned years in advance. Diwali (Deepavali) Nov 27, 2023: Guru Nanak's Birthday: Dec 25, 2023: Christmas Day: Which are the other holidays in India? 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. Diwali is a five-day festival begins with Dhanteras and ends with Bhai Dooj. Naraka Chaturdashi is also a major day for purchasing festive foods, particularly sweets. 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. In 2023, Diwali will be celebrated on 19th October (Sunday). [43] In western states such as Gujarat, and certain northern Hindu communities of India, the festival of Diwali signifies the start of a new year. They also spend time with family and friends to enjoy good food and fireworks. 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). Hence Deepavali has been . [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". 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. Dev Deepawali or Dev Diwali takes place on the full-moon night of the Hindu month of Kartika. Every autumn, the observance sees millions of people attend. To learn more, visit ISA's Instagram. A lunar half-month is 15 days. 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. What is Diwali? Complete guide to visiting India during Diwali - Explore With Lora Diwali is also known as the 'Festival of Light' because it is celebrated using lights, fireworks and lanterns in private homes and public places. 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. When Is Diwali 2021 and How Is the Festival of Lights Celebrated? [77][78][i], The religious significance of Diwali varies regionally within India. In Sri Lanka and. This time the revered festival of Diwali is to be held on the month of October 24, 2022. When is Diwali this year and how to celebrate the Festival of Lights UCF's Indian Student Association (ISA) will host Diwali event at the Hindu Society of Central Florida Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. It coincides with the new moon (amvasy) and is deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunisolar calendar. [48][127], The youngest members in the family visit their elders, such as grandparents and other senior members of the community, on this day. What is Diwali? - BBC Bitesize The Hindu calendar is based on both the sun and moon (while the Gregorian calendar is only based on the sun). Diwali is celebrated every year in either October or November, based on the lunar cycle. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and an even deeper meaning is to drive away our inner darkness with light. 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. [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. Diwali 2020: What is the festival of lights and how is it celebrated? 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. (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) [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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Subhadra welcomes him with a tilaka on his forehead. This is done via a bathing ritual called Abhyanga Snan. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. Diwali is the symbol of the victory of good over evil, of hope over despair and of knowledge over ignorance. 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. When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023? - Learn Religions Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426. Some suggest he lived in the 5th-century BCE contemporaneously with the Buddha. [12] Chhoti Diwali is also a day for visiting friends, business associates and relatives, and exchanging gifts. 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. [184], During Diwali, the levels of suspended particulate matter increase. 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. [115][144][145], The agricultural symbolism is also observed on this day by many Hindus as Annakut, literally "mountain of food". When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Dates for 2020 to 2025 - Learn Religions Diwali 2022: What Is Diwali? - The Old Farmer's Almanac