When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Dates for 2020 to 2025 - Learn Religions [140] It is regionally called Annakut (heap of grain), Padwa, Goverdhan puja, Bali Pratipada, Bali Padyami, Kartik Shukla Pratipada and other names. 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. Large government-sponsored festivals are held in London, Sydney, Toronto, and Edinburgh, and they are often a showcase for Indian culture, music, dance, fashion, food, crafts, and fireworks. What is Diwali and how is it celebrated? | BBC Good Food [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. The day of Diwali itself falls on November 4. This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. . A solar calendar (like the Gregorian one) has an average of 365.24 days. It's celebrated across five days with the day of Diwali observed on the new moon or Amavasya. The exact dates change each year but this year, Diwali falls on Monday 24 October. On the third day, Lakshmi Puja, families seek blessings from Lakshmi to ensure their prosperity; light diyas, candles, and fireworks; andvisittemples. 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). [185] When these compounds pollute the air, they increase the risk of cancer in people. Diwali is known as the festival of lights in India. Diwali is a five-day religious festival. 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. [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. Diwali is also an important festival in Jainism. Some diyas may also be set adrift on streams and river and the evening is marked with fireworks. [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. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. [121] The day and its rituals are interpreted as ways to liberate any souls from their suffering in "Naraka", or hell, as well as a reminder of spiritual auspiciousness. [168], Diwali has increasingly attracted cultural exchanges, becoming occasions for politicians and religious leaders worldwide to meet Hindu or Indian origin citizens, diplomatic staff or neighbours. In 2023, it falls on a Sunday, and some businesses may choose to follow Sunday opening hours. 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. On this day, sisters will give gifts to their brothers and invite them to enjoy a meal. Diwali will become an official holiday on school calendars in New York [112] [o] The looms, tools of trade, machines and workplaces are cleaned and prayers offered to these livelihood means. [43], The artisan Hindu and Sikh community celebrates the fourth day as the Vishwakarma puja day. Dhan-trayodashi or Dhan teras: Dhan means "wealth" and Trayodashi means "thirteenth day." Thus, as the name . The second day is devoted to Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Edward Reddcliff . Das, Subhamoy. Because Diwali is such a meaningful celebration, festivities are often planned years in advance. Diwali for the year 2022 is observed on 24 October, which falls on a Monday. [143] In Gujarat, Annakut is the first day of the new year and celebrated through the purchase of essentials, or sabras (literally, "good things in life"), such as salt, offering prayers to Krishna and visiting temples. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. Also known as the 'festival of lights', the celebration usually lasts for five days. Deepavali means a row of lights, where 'deep' means light and 'avali' means row. These two festivals likely developed in tandem over their recent histories, states McDermott. [177][s], The use of fireworks also causes an increase in the number of burn injuries in India during Diwali. It's observed on the 15th day of the month. [123], This day is commonly celebrated as Diwali in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka. 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 ). [143][147], The day celebrates the sibling bond between brother and sister. Today it is the "festival of lights," attached to various mythological stories, particularly tales about Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Diwali/Deepavali in India - Time and Date It's been 11 years since we celebrated Diwali at our family homes back in India, but that will never stop us from feeling at home, celebrating traditions, and embracing it. 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 height of Diwali is celebrated on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of Ashvin or Kartika. 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. Diwali (Deepavali) Nov 27, 2023: Guru Nanak's Birthday: Dec 25, 2023: Christmas Day: Which are the other holidays in India? [117][118][119], The third day is the height of the festival,[126] and coincides with the last day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin or Kartik. [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 celebrated in October or November each year. [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Diwali is the Indian "festival of lights"a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. It coincides with the new moon (amvasy) and is deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunisolar calendar. Diwali is observed as a Gazetted Holiday throughout the nation. iStock.com/triloks What Do People Do? Diwali is typically a four- or five-day event, starting two days before the new moon and extending two days afterward. 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. Some Muslims joined the Hindu community in celebrating Diwali in the Mughal era. Lasting over five days, the holiday is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs worldwide. 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). 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. [23] Another aspect of the festival is remembering the ancestors. [91] The telling of these myths are reminiscent of the Hindu belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil. This time the revered festival of Diwali is to be held on the month of October 24, 2022. Kartik overlaps with October and November. It is traditionally a puja, or a celebration that worships, honors, and shows devotion to the divine. 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. [128][95], The day after Diwali is the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik. "When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023?" 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). 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 . People will wear their best clothes and pray to Lakshmi as lamps are lit outside homes and temples. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. According to Audrey Truschke, the Sunni Muslim emperor Aurangzeb did limit "public observation" of many religious holidays such as Hindu Diwali and Holi, but also of Shia observance of Muharram and the Persian holiday of Nauruz. Hindus celebrating Diwali in India. [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. [121] It is also celebrated as Roop Chaudas in some North Indian households, where women bathe before sunrise, while lighting a Diya (lamp) in the bath area, they believe it helps enhance their beauty it is a fun ritual that young girls enjoy as part of festivities. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? [41], Diwali (English: /dwli/)[9] or Divali[44] is from the Sanskrit dpvali meaning "row or series of lights". To learn more, visit ISA's Instagram. They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha. Holi Dates: When is Holi in 2021, 2022 and 2023? [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. This year, Diwali begins on Monday 24 October on the Gregorian calendar. Das, Subhamoy. The five day festival falls in the first week of Novmber. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. "[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. Diwali was celebrated as a signifier of triumph of good over evil after Krishna's Victory over Narakasura. DEV DEEPAWALI - November 26, 2023 - National Today Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of Kartik which is considered as the most serene months according to the Hindu Lunar calendar. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. Diwali, the festival of lights, is a religious observance commemorated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists around the world. [61], Islamic historians of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire era also mentioned Diwali and other Hindu festivals. People often think of Diwali as a Hindu festival, but it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains . [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. What makes Dev Deepawali different from Diwali? Dev Deepawali or Dev Diwali takes place on the full-moon night of the Hindu month of Kartika. Diwali, also spelled Divali, is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. This is the day when Hindu, Jain and Sikh temples and homes are aglow with lights, thereby making it the "festival of lights". [122] A mythological interpretation of this festive day is the destruction of the asura (demon) Narakasura by Krishna, a victory that frees 16,000 imprisoned princesses kidnapped by Narakasura. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating from the fourth century CE but was likely practiced for many hundreds of years before that. Every autumn, the observance sees millions of people attend. It is observed by the Vajrayana Buddhist minority among the Newarpeople of Nepal. The celebration will include dancing, a fashion show and other performances, as well as free food. [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. 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. [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. It coincides with the day of Kali Chaudas. Major celebrations occur on the third day of the five-day long festival . Diwali is for mere mortals; Dev Deepawali is the festival of the gods. Cook, Sharell. About Diwali. Diwali is a five-day festival begins with Dhanteras and ends with Bhai Dooj. Though technically religious, it's also become a cultural event in North America that's celebrated with sweets and special foods. Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator, fact-checker and author of the thrift shopping book. Diwali Dates for 2022 to 2040 | Diwali Calender - TheHolidaySpot.com 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. Diwali is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Diwali or Deepavali - "The festival of lights" is one of the most important festivals for Hindus. Hit ctrl+D to bookmark this page, and share this page with your friends. Meaning "rows of lighted lamps," Diwali is a celebration of light over darkness for different cultures across the world, especially South Asia. 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. Diwali as a new-moon day, marks the last day of a 15-day period. In 2022, Diwali is on Monday 24 October. 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. Diwali is the biggest holiday of the year in India. India School Holidays in 2023 (Full List) - Edarabia It is a national holiday in India which marks its independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947. A lunar half-month is 15 days. 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. [114], According to Tracy Pintchman, Dhanteras is a symbol of annual renewal, cleansing and an auspicious beginning for the next year. 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. The exact date changes every year because the Hindu calendar is lunar. 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. [28][29][30], Diwali is also a major cultural event for the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain diaspora. Sikhs historically referred to this festival as Diwali. When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? At such events a variety of music, dance and arts performances, food, crafts, and cultural celebrations are featured. Food is a major focus with families partaking in feasts and sharing mithai. 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? It is observed on the 15th day of the 8th month (the month of Kartik) in India's calendar. Each day of the festival has special significance. [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. More Topics 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. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. The word Deepawali comes from the Sanskrit word deep, which means an Indian lantern/lamp. 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. Shopkeepers and small operations perform puja rituals in their office premises. 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. 10 fabulous facts about Diwali! - National Geographic Kids Why do Hindu festivals fall on different dates every year? Here is everything you need to know about the festival and how it is celebrated. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. [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. DIWALI. It is determined by the Indian calendar and the dates of celebration change every year. According to Pintchman, in some Hindu traditions the women recite tales where sisters protect their brothers from enemies that seek to cause him either bodily or spiritual harm. It is celebrated for five days across India and other parts of southern Asia, as well as in many other places around the world. It takes place on November 26 this year. For Sikhs, the celebration highlights the release of guru Hargobind Singh from prison and his return to Amritsar. Amavasya is thought of as the darkest night of the year and is holy to Hindus. Monier Monier Williams (2008 updated, Harvard University), Sanskrit English dictionary, . ", Some inscriptions mention the festival of lights in Prakrit terms such as, The Sanskrit inscription is in the Grantha script. This year, Diwali will be on Thursday, Nov. 4. Such events are also mentioned in Sikh historical records. [77][78][i], The religious significance of Diwali varies regionally within India. [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. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. Diwali Is a Festival of Sweet Delights - Food & Wine He has written several books about Hinduism for children and young adults. 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. The festival falls sometime between October and November. They follow thithi which is based on the movement of planets and Sun. [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. [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. According to the ancient calendar, Diwali is observed on Amavasya (or new moon) the 15th day of the month of Kartik, every year. Diwali lasts five days, and the main celebrations are held on the third day of the festival. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. DIWALI - Changes Annually - National Day Calendar 80 New Diwali Wishes, Quotes & Images For Your Loved Ones! Grewal, a scholar of Sikhism and Sikh history, Diwali in the Sikh tradition is older than the sixth Guru Hargobind legend. All the days except Diwali are named using the designation in the Indian calendar. Diwali Celebrations Dates in Different Regions Diwali 2023 (Deepavali 2023) is on Sunday, November 12th in India. Among Hindus the most widespread custom is 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. The first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triodasi or Dhanwantari Triodasi also called Dhan Theras. Hindu temples on this day prepare and present "mountains of sweets" to the faithful who have gathered for darshan (visit). 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. He explained that though the actual Hindu festival day is the same, it is identified differently in regional calendars because there are two traditions in the Hindu calendar.