The Vishwakarma puja day is alternatively observed in other Hindu communities in accordance with the Hindu solar calendar, and this falls in September. This year, Diwali falls at the start of November beginning with Dhanteras on November 2. Diwali 2023: 12 th of November, Sunday 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. [19] Diwali is also marked with fireworks and the decoration of floors with rangoli designs, and other parts of the house with jhalars. 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. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Calendar Of Deepavali Holidays 2022.We present you with all the dates Diwali will have from 2022 till 2040. 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. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating from the fourth century CE but was likely practiced for many hundreds of years before that. 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. The Hindu calendar is based on both the sun and moon (while the Gregorian calendar is only based on the sun). 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 is believed to please Yama, the god of death, and to ward off untimely death. [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. This begins with the first day known as "Dhanteras' or the worship of wealth. It is celebrated in India and other countries such as Nepal, Malaysia, Fiji, and Mauritius. [114], According to Tracy Pintchman, Dhanteras is a symbol of annual renewal, cleansing and an auspicious beginning for the next year. The fourth day has different names in different regions and typically celebrates the marital bond. This is why dates change every year. Diwali (Deepavali) Nov 27, 2023: Guru Nanak's Birthday: Dec 25, 2023: Christmas Day: Which are the other holidays in India? In 2013, about 25 billion (US$310million) of fireworks were sold to merchants for the Diwali season, an equivalent retail value of about 50 billion (US$630million) according to The Times of India. This legend is remembered through the ritual of building small mountain-like miniatures from cow dung. [117] Some Hindus observe Yama Deepa on the second night before the main day of Diwali.[118][119]. Diwali or Deepawali, known as the "festival of lights," is usually celebrated in October or November, and is on October 24 this year. [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 event is free and UCF students of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend. A 2017 estimate states 50,000 tons (100million pounds) of fireworks are exploded annually in India over the Diwali festival. [12] Chhoti Diwali is also a day for visiting friends, business associates and relatives, and exchanging gifts. Diwali is observed on the day of Amavasya or the new moon and marks the start of the Hindu New Year. Communities prepare over one hundred dishes from a variety of ingredients, which is then dedicated to Krishna before being shared among the community. 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 . The Diwali-related inscription is the 4th inscription and it includes the year Vikrama Era 1268 (c. 1211 CE). It's a celebration that takes place 15 days after Diwali - the Hindu festival of lights. The festival usually falls between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. [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. A Hindu devotee lights oil lamps at a temple during . The dates of Diwali change every year as it dependent on the moon cycle. iStock.com/triloks What Do People Do? 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. For example, the Singaporean government, in association with the Hindu Endowment Board of Singapore, organises many cultural events during Diwali every year. [20], The festival is an annual homecoming and bonding period not only for families,[17][18] but also for communities and associations, particularly those in urban areas, which will organise activities, events and gatherings. [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. The festival typically lasts for four to five days and coincides with the new moon on the Hindu lunisolar calendar,. The Diwali festival dates back to ancient times in India. These lamps symbolize the light of inner spirituality that protects us from the spiritual darkness that threatens to engulf us. [124] Many visit their favourite Hindu temple. [53][54], The five-day long festival originated in the Indian subcontinent and is likely a fusion of harvest festivals in ancient India. Amavasya Tithi on Diwali begins at. It also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. [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. In India, the holiday always falls on the 15th of Kartik, the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar . "Deepawali" and "Dipawali" redirect here. Das, Subhamoy. What are the 5 Diwali Days in 2022? Diwali is observed as a Gazetted Holiday throughout the nation. [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 word "Deepavali" means "a row of lights" in Sanskrit, and its origins were likely as an ancient harvest festival. [143], In some rural communities of the north, west and central regions, the fourth day is celebrated as Govardhan puja, honouring the legend of the Hindu god Krishna saving the cowherd and farming communities from incessant rains and floods triggered by Indra's anger,[143] which he accomplished by lifting the Govardhan mountain. The 5 days of Diwali This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. . Cook, Sharell. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Sikhs historically referred to this festival as Diwali. [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. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Diwali-Hindu-festival, Diwali - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Diwali - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). [91] The telling of these myths are reminiscent of the Hindu belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil. Some Muslims joined the Hindu community in celebrating Diwali in the Mughal era. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. This year, Diwali or Deepavali will take place on October 24. 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. . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [125], Some Hindus observe Yama Deepam (also known as Yama Dipadana or Jam ke Diya) on the second day of Diwali, instead of the first day. Though technically religious, it's also become a cultural event in North America that's celebrated with sweets and special foods. Das, Subhamoy. 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. [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. The exact dates change each year but this year, Diwali falls on Monday 24 October. Learn Religions, Oct. 12, 2021, learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426. This is followed by Choti Diwali the next day and Diwali on November 4. Subhamoy Das is the co-author of "Applied Hinduism: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World." 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. [83][84][85] Hindus from the Braj region in northern India, parts of Assam, as well as southern Tamil and Telugu communities view Diwali as the day the god Krishna overcame and destroyed the evil demon king Narakasura, in yet another symbolic victory of knowledge and good over ignorance and evil. 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. 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. [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. A solar calendar (like the Gregorian one) has an average of 365.24 days. The course of the five days includes cleaning . This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. 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) But when Diwali occurs in the calendar changes every year. Subhadra welcomes him with a tilaka on his forehead. This is believed to please Yama (Yamraj), the god of death, and to ward off untimely death. The festival of Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom after defeating Ravana. People illuminate their homes, temples and offices with diyas, candles and lanterns. [101] According to J.S. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. Some suggest he lived in the 5th-century BCE contemporaneously with the Buddha. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on October 24. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Since the 18th century, Diwali has been celebrated in Sikhism as the time of Guru Hargobinds return to Amritsar from captivity in Gwalioran echo of Ramas return to Ayodhya. It coincides with the new moon (amvasy) and is deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunisolar calendar. 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. [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. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? [183] These invisible yet harmful particles affect the environment and in turn, put people's health at stake. Furthermore, when specifying the masa, one of two traditions are applicable, viz. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [73] According to Lorenz Franz Kielhorn, a German Indologist known for translating many Indic inscriptions, this festival is mentioned as Dipotsavam in verses 6 and 7 of the Ranganatha temple Sanskrit inscription of the 13th-century Kerala Hindu king Ravivarman Samgramadhira. [186], (federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to a specific racial/ethnic group or sexual minority, (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) = Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies. 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. Diwali, the festival of lights, is a religious observance commemorated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists around the world. [161] Other goods that are bought in substantial quantities during Diwali include confectionery and fireworks. Each day has a different name and rituals. The five days are as follows:. Spiritually, Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. [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. Diwali is the biggest holiday of the year in India. They install diyas, small earthen oil-filled lamps that they light up for the next five days, near Lakshmi and Ganesha iconography. [56], Diwali was also described by numerous travelers from outside India. In South India the festival marks Krishnas defeat of the demon Narakasura. Diwali lasts five days, and the main celebrations are held on the third day of the festival. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. 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. [59][60] The 16th-century Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes wrote of his visit to the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire, where Dipavali was celebrated in October with householders illuminating their homes, and their temples, with lamps. 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. [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. To produce colors when crackers are burst, carcinogenic and poisonous elements are used. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. [143], The last day of the festival, the second day of the bright fortnight of Kartik, is called Bhai Duj (literally "brother's day"[146]), Bhau Beej, Bhai Tilak or Bhai Phonta. This year, celebrations began on Saturday, with the "main Diwali " falling today, Monday October 24, which marks the . The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahaviras holy knowledge. (2021, October 12). 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. 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. In 2021, Diwali is on November 4. "There were a hundred-plus of us at my cousin's house each year," she explains. Hindu temples on this day prepare and present "mountains of sweets" to the faithful who have gathered for darshan (visit). In 2022, Diwali is on October 24. Shopkeepers and small operations perform puja rituals in their office premises. There are many stories around the celebration of Diwali. [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". Because Diwali is such a meaningful celebration, festivities are often planned years in advance. Corrections? [49] (According to Indologist Constance Jones, this night ends the lunar month of Ashwin and starts the month of Kartik[50] but see this note[c] and Amanta and Purnima systems.) [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. On this day, sisters will give gifts to their brothers and invite them to enjoy a meal. [12] According to Goldstein, these are then shaped into various forms, such as laddus, barfis, halwa, kachoris, shrikhand, and sandesh, rolled and stuffed delicacies, such as karanji, shankarpali, maladu, susiyam, pottukadalai. The incredible amount of fireworks and firecrackers set off during the five days of Diwali have become an issue in many Indian cities, to the point that ambient air and noise during Diwali are considered somewhat of a health hazard. Grewal, a scholar of Sikhism and Sikh history, Diwali in the Sikh tradition is older than the sixth Guru Hargobind legend. [115][144][145], The agricultural symbolism is also observed on this day by many Hindus as Annakut, literally "mountain of food". [n] Vishwakarma is the presiding Hindu deity for those in architecture, building, manufacturing, textile work and crafts trades. They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha. [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. Small business owners give gifts or special bonus payments to their employees between Dhanteras and Lakshmi Pujan. [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. The meaning of Diwaliand its many legends Diwali is so widely. [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 day before Diwali is remembered as Naraka Chaturdasi, the day on which Narakasura was killed by Krishna. iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath What Do People Do? 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. [43], The artisan Hindu and Sikh community celebrates the fourth day as the Vishwakarma puja day. [165] About two-thirds of Indian households, according to the ASSOCHAM forecast, would spend between 5,000 (US$63) and 10,000 (US$130) to celebrate Diwali in 2017. Each day of the festival has special significance. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue was founded as Secretariat for non-Christians by Pope Paul VI. 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. [79] The festival formally begins two days before the night of Diwali, and ends two days thereafter. It's observed on the 15th day of the 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. [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. 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". Diwali is the Indian "festival of lights"a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Dates for 2020 to 2025." Answer (1 of 6): Hindus do not follow date system. 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). Dates for 2020 to 2025. 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). Because the festival of Diwali is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, the dates are different each year. 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. 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 ). (2021, September 4). Diwali this year is a close-knit family affair. [21][22] Many towns organise community parades and fairs with parades or music and dance performances in parks. [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.