What is Diwali?
Diwali is a festival which is celebrated in India and Nepal. While it is particularly sacred to Hindus, practitioners of other Indian religions also celebrate Diwali, and Jainist, Hindu, and Sikh communities all over the world commemorate Diwali with smaller festivals of their own. The timing of this holiday varies, since it is based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but it is generally celebrated in the fall. Diwali festivities in India involve everyone, not just the religious faithful, and the holiday is a major event in the Indian year.
We have complied the important facts about Diwali so you can learn all about this festive holiday! • Diwali is India’s biggest and most well known holiday. It is known as the “festival of lights” and it celebrates the Hindu new year. • Diwali is a popular festival not just amongst Hindus, but also in other religions like Jainism, Buddhism and Sikkhism. It is celebrated by people all over the world. • Diwali is believed to be the time of transition from darkness unto light – the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds and which brings us closer to divinity. • Diwali falls on different days each year. The exact days are calculated by the lunar Hindu calendar. It occurs on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartika. According to the Gregorian calendar, it typically falls in October or November. • Diwali is celebrated for a period of 5 days. Each days has it’s own significance, rituals and myths. The third day is celebrated as the main Diwali festival, and is known as the
Deepavali, or Diwali is an Indian festival. It is celebrated on the new moon day of Kartika, although the celebrations begin two days prior and end two days after that date. In 2009, it will be celebrated on October 17. Diwali is the celebration of homecoming of King Rama from Ayodha after a 14 year exile in the forest, after he defeated the evil Ravana. People do many things on Diwali. Such as decorating homes with lights, bursting fireworks, and distributing sweet and gifts. To respect the festival, people do prayers, called puja in Hindi. Diwali has a few nicknames. They are: Row of Lights, Festival of Lights, and Deepavali.
Diwali, also called Deepavali or Divali, is a major Hindu festival that is very significant in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Known as the “Festival of Lights,” it symbolises the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind. Celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional dīpa (earthen lamp, as illustrated). Fireworks are associated with the festival. Diwali is a colloquial name used in North India, while the festival is formally called Deepavali(= theepam + oli ), and is called in South India as such. Diwali is celebrated for five consecutive days at the end of Hindu month of Ashwayuja. It usually occurs in October/November, and is one of the most popular and eagerly awaited festivals in India. Diwali comes exactly twenty days after Dussehra. Hindus and Sikhs alike regard it as a celebration of life and use the occasion to strengthen family and social relationships. For Hindus it is one of the most important festivals, and
