Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. [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. [184], During Diwali, the levels of suspended particulate matter increase. Holi Dates: When is Holi in 2021, 2022 and 2023? Make sure you check the dates online if you plan on visiting India during Diwali. "When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023?" [12][114] Families also prepare homemade delicacies for Lakshmi Pujan, regarded as the main day of Diwali. The main festival is on Sunday, but festivities begin on Friday, a day called Dhanteras. The Hindu lunar calendar has two parts: dark (Krishna paksha, or "waning moon" in Sanskrit) and light (hukla paksha, or "waxing moon"), and the new moon (amavasya) always occurs in between the parts, typically on the 15th. This festival gets its name from "Deepa" meaning "Light" and "Avali" meaning "Row". This year, it begins in the first week of November from 2nd-6th. [24], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali is now also celebrated by other faiths. [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. The Prayer Hymn (Aarti) for the Hindu Diwali Celebration, The Real Reason for the Hindu Raksha Bandhan Celebration, Hindu Calendar: Days, Months, Years and Epochs, Fasting, Praying, and Regular Hindu Rituals. [31][32][33] The main day of the festival of Diwali (the day of Lakshmi Puja) is an official holiday in Fiji,[34] Guyana,[35] India, Malaysia,[a][36] Mauritius, Myanmar,[37] Nepal,[38] Pakistan,[39] Singapore,[40] Sri Lanka, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. The celebration will include dancing, a fashion show and other performances, as well as free food. Lakshmi is the focus of worship on that day. The Diwali festival dates back to ancient times in India. Hindus celebrating Diwali in India. [28][29][30], Diwali is also a major cultural event for the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain diaspora. Shopkeepers and small operations perform puja rituals in their office premises. "There were a hundred-plus of us at my cousin's house each year," she explains. [41], Diwali (English: /dwli/)[9] or Divali[44] is from the Sanskrit dpvali meaning "row or series of lights". Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator, fact-checker and author of the thrift shopping book. The common celebratory practices are known as the festival of light, however there are minor differences from state to state in India. 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) [114], On the second day of Diwali, Hanuman Puja is performed in some parts of India especially in Gujarat. Learn Religions, Sep. 4, 2021, learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209. Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of Kartik which is considered as the most serene months according to the Hindu Lunar calendar. [124][128] Shops either do not open or close early on this day allowing employees to enjoy family time. The festival climax is on the third day and is called the main Diwali. Many light diyas and keep them burning throughout the night. 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. Amavasya is thought of as the darkest night of the year and is holy to Hindus. 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. People will wear their best clothes and pray to Lakshmi as lamps are lit outside homes and temples. 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. 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. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating from the fourth century CE but was likely practiced for many hundreds of years before that. The holiday falls in late October or early November each year, and in 2021, is on Thursday, November 4. . [91] The telling of these myths are reminiscent of the Hindu belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil. 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. Forget bitterness. [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. This year's festival begins on Oct. 22. Diwali is for mere mortals; Dev Deepawali is the festival of the gods. Every year on the darkest night in the northern hemisphere, millions illuminate their homes and streets to celebrate the victory of good over evil. [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. Diwali or Deepavali, also known as the "Festival of Lights," is the biggest festival in theHindu calendar, celebrated in early fall of each year. Food is a major focus with families partaking in feasts and sharing mithai. Diwali, also known as Deepavali, falls on 4 November this year. In 2023, it falls on a Sunday, and some businesses may choose to follow Sunday opening hours. Answer (1 of 6): Hindus do not follow date system. [183] These invisible yet harmful particles affect the environment and in turn, put people's health at stake. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209. It is a time when families come together, friends are reunited and everyone celebrates the triumph of good over evil. [128][95], The day after Diwali is the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik. iStock.com/triloks What Do People Do? 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. 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. In 2022, Diwali will begin on October 22, and end on October 26. 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). [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 year, Diwali or Deepavali will take place on October 24. It is well preserved on the north wall of the second. 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. 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. Today it is the "festival of lights," attached to various mythological stories, particularly tales about Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. On this day, Lord Dhanwantari came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic for mankind. 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. 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. [95] According to the Jain tradition, this practice of lighting lamps first began on the day of Mahavira's nirvana in 527 BCE,[j] when 18 kings who had gathered for Mahavira's final teachings issued a proclamation that lamps be lit in remembrance of the "great light, Mahavira". The day of Diwali itself falls on November 4.. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. 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. [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. 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. 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. 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. Diwali always falls some time between October and November, but the exact date varies each year as the Hindu calendar is based on the Moon. Diwali, for Vasavada, would always culminate in a large family feast with enough food to feed a small town. iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath What Do People Do? They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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 ). Diwali takes places every year, either in October or November, depending on the position of the Moon. The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahaviras holy knowledge. Dhan-trayodashi or Dhan teras: Dhan means "wealth" and Trayodashi means "thirteenth day." Thus, as the name . Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. Some Muslims joined the Hindu community in celebrating Diwali in the Mughal era. 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. Here is everything you need to know about the festival and how it is celebrated. [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". They install diyas, small earthen oil-filled lamps that they light up for the next five days, near Lakshmi and Ganesha iconography. Such events are also mentioned in Sikh historical records. [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.) [23][140] According to one tradition, the day is associated with the story of Bali's defeat at the hands of Vishnu. Diwali was not a public holiday in Pakistan from 1947 to 2016. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and an even deeper meaning is to drive away our inner darkness with light. 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 Celebrations Dates in Different Regions Diwali 2023 (Deepavali 2023) is on Sunday, November 12th in India. 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. [102] The festival of Diwali, according to Ray Colledge, highlights three events in Sikh history: the founding of the city of Amritsar in 1577, the release of Guru Hargobind from the Mughal prison, and the day of Bhai Mani Singh's martyrdom in 1738 as a result of his failure to pay a fine for trying to celebrate Diwali and thereafter refusing to convert to Islam. One of the earliest reports on this variation was by Wilson in 1847. In some parts of India, the day after Lakshmi Puja is marked with the Govardhan Puja and Balipratipada (Padwa). [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. 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. This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. The festival of Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom after defeating Ravana. [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. 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. 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. This year, Diwali begins on Monday 24 October on the Gregorian calendar. Cook, Sharell. The Diwali-related inscription is the 4th inscription and it includes the year Vikrama Era 1268 (c. 1211 CE). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [47][b], The five-day celebration is observed every year in early autumn after the conclusion of the summer harvest. Diwali is known as the festival of lights in India. Das, Subhamoy. This year it was from November 5th-9th and in 2019 it will be October 25-29th. 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. Naraka Chaturdashi is also a major day for purchasing festive foods, particularly sweets. This year, Diwali 2022 begins on Monday, October 24, 2022 (24/10/2022), and finishes on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 (26/10/2022). https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209 (accessed March 4, 2023). It coincides with the day of Kali Chaudas. Each day of Diwali is marked differently. The word "avali" means row and "deepa . Diwali is also an important festival in Jainism. [15][131][132] After the puja, people go outside and celebrate by lighting up patakhe (fireworks) together, and then share a family feast and mithai (sweets, desserts). 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. (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) Diwali was celebrated as a signifier of triumph of good over evil after Krishna's Victory over Narakasura. "[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. Dates for 2020 to 2025." This year, it begins in the first week of November from 2nd-6th. [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. This year's date of celebration starts November 14, 2020. . 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. [120] The term "chhoti" means little, while "Naraka" means hell and "Chaturdashi" means "fourteenth". [116] Some communities, particularly those active in Ayurvedic and health-related professions, pray or perform havan rituals to Dhanvantari on Dhanteras. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. [140] It is regionally called Annakut (heap of grain), Padwa, Goverdhan puja, Bali Pratipada, Bali Padyami, Kartik Shukla Pratipada and other names. On the Gregorian calendar, the festival falls between October and November. [181][182], The use of firecrackers on Diwali increases the concentration of dust and pollutants in the air. Learn about Diwali, when it occurs, and common traditions! [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. Dates for 2020 to 2025. Amavasya Tithi on Diwali begins at. This year, the biggest day of festivities (Lakshmi Puja) will take place on November 4, 2021. The women, in particular, adorn themselves in colourful attire and decorate their hands with henna. Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune and prosperity, is the primary deity worshiped during Diwali. There are many stories around the celebration of Diwali. [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. It coincides with the new moon (amvasy) and is deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunisolar calendar. Diwali is one of the most revered and a pious festival deeply entrenched in Hindu culture. It's celebrated across five days with the day of Diwali observed on the new moon or Amavasya. Lasting over five days, the holiday is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs worldwide. [103][104][k], Diwali is not a festival for most Buddhists, with the exception of the Newar people of Nepal who revere various deities in Vajrayana Buddhism and celebrate Diwali by offering prayers to Lakshmi. [159][160] According to Rao, Diwali is one of the major festivals where rural Indians spend a significant portion of their annual income, and is a means for them to renew their relationships and social networks. Diwali is an important festival in Jainism. This celebration lasts five days and takes place during the Hindu lunisolar month, Kartika. The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi. This year, Diwali will be on Thursday, Nov. 4. [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. The inscription states that Ramachandracharya built and dedicated a drama performance hall, with a golden cupola, on Diwali. [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. Some 200,000 New Yorkers celebrate Diwali each year, per state Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar . 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). The final day is Bhai Dooj and similarly, celebrates the bonds between brothers and sisters. [75][76] Another early 13th-century Sanskrit stone inscription, written in the Devanagari script, has been found in the north end of a mosque pillar in Jalore, Rajasthan evidently built using materials from a demolished Jain temple. For Jains, it is a time to celebrate Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, and the moment reached a state of enlightenment. [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. [23] Another aspect of the festival is remembering the ancestors. [123], This day is commonly celebrated as Diwali in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. According to McDermott, while the Durga Puja is the largest Bengali festival and it can be traced to the 16th-century or earlier, the start of Kali puja tradition on Diwali is traceable to no earlier than about the mid-18th-century during the reign of Raja Krishnacandra Ray. "The first day . Learn Religions. 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. [140], This day ritually celebrates the bond between the wife and husband,[143] and in some Hindu communities, husbands will celebrate this with gifts to their wives. The festival isn't celebrated in Kerala though. The first day, November 2, is Dhanteras. [109] Textual evidence suggests that Bengali Hindus worshipped Lakshmi before the colonial era, and that the Kali puja is a more recent phenomenon. 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. These two festivals likely developed in tandem over their recent histories, states McDermott. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. Major celebrations occur on the third day of the five-day long festival . 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. It . These purchases are often gold and silver items or new utensils. The Jain Diwali celebrated in many parts of India has similar practices to the Hindu Diwali, such as the lighting of lamps and the offering of prayers to Lakshmi. The dates of Diwali change every year as it dependent on the moon cycle. Earlier in the season's fortnight, some welcome the souls of their ancestors to join the family for the festivities with the Mahalaya. Diwali 2021: What the holiday . Ritually, in honour of Lakshmi, the female player always wins. 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". The five day festival falls in the first week of Novmber. [92][12], Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali has transcended religious lines. [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. Small business owners give gifts or special bonus payments to their employees between Dhanteras and Lakshmi Pujan. The holiday overlaps with the Hindu New Year and as a result is associated with a chance to reset and start anew. Major temples and homes are decorated with lights, festive foods shared with all, friends and relatives remembered and visited with gifts. Diwali is a five-day festival begins with Dhanteras and ends with Bhai Dooj. 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 celebrated for five days across India and other parts of southern Asia, as well as in many other places around the world. Where does Diwali get its name? The third day is Diwali and the height of the festival. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426. Diwali is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. . Diwali is observed as a Gazetted Holiday throughout the nation. 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. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Diwali, also spelled Divali, is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Sometimes these are wrapped with edible silver foil (vark). It is intended to signify a brother's duty to protect his sister as well as sisters blessing their brothers. This is why dates change every year. The day of Diwali itself falls on November 4. It is celebrated in October or November each year. 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. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. The Diwali festival actually runs for five days, with the main event happening on the third day in most places in India. Diwali is a five-day religious festival. [79], Hindus of eastern India associate the festival with the Goddess Kali, who symbolises the victory of good over evil. What is Diwali? ( See calendar ). Sainsbury's bans fireworks across . * Hit ctrl+D to bookmark this page, and share this page with your friends. [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. The exact dates change each year but this year, Diwali falls on Monday 24 October. Diwali for the year 2022 is observed on 24 October, which falls on a Monday. Diwali celebrates Rama's eventual defeat of the evil spirit Ravana, and his triumphant return to his home. Diwali's date is determined by the India calendar and changes every year, ranging from October to November. Over time, these spring and autumn festivals became the most important of Sikh festivals and holy sites such as Amritsar became focal points for annual pilgrimages. The darkest night is the apex of the celebration and coincides with the second half of October or early November in the Gregorian calendar. [107] According to some observers, this traditional celebration by Newar Buddhists in Nepal, through the worship of Lakshmi and Vishnu during Diwali, is not syncretism but rather a reflection of the freedom within Mahayana Buddhist tradition to worship any deity for their worldly betterment.[29]. In 2022, Diwali is on October 24. He has written several books about Hinduism for children and young adults. Diwali (Deepavali) Nov 27, 2023: Guru Nanak's Birthday: Dec 25, 2023: Christmas Day: Which are the other holidays in India?