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. Diwali, for Vasavada, would always culminate in a large family feast with enough food to feed a small town. [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. [79] The festival formally begins two days before the night of Diwali, and ends two days thereafter. It is commemorated on the 15th day of Kartik, the Hindu calendar's holiest month. The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahaviras holy knowledge. It is observed on the 15th day of the 8th month (the month of Kartik) in India's calendar. As an auspicious occasion, many Hindus will make big purchases as it's believed that this will bring good luck. 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 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. [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. The first day, November 2, is Dhanteras. In 2023, Diwali is on November 12. On this day, Lord Dhanwantari came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic for mankind. For some Hindus, it is a day to pray for the peace to the manes, or defiled souls of one's ancestors and light their way for their journeys in the cyclic afterlife. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Diwali/Deepavali is a public holiday. The Prime Minister Jawaharlal . [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. Diwali is celebrated for five days, each with its own special significance. Every year Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains around the world celebrate the Indian Festival of Lights called Diwali. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 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. This year (2021), Diwali begins on Tuesday 2 November, with the peak day of celebrations happening on the third day, Thursday 4 November. These clay lamps represent "the inner light that protects each household from spiritual darkness." While each day of Diwali has its own importance, on the third day of Diwali, this year on Oct. 24, people gather at temples to honor the goddess Lakshmi. In 2023, it falls on a Sunday, and some businesses may choose to follow Sunday opening hours. The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi. [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. [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. 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. In 2023, Diwali will be celebrated on 19th October (Sunday). Many light diyas and keep them burning throughout the night. Diwali Diwali (or Deepawali, Deepavali) is an ancient Hindu festival that is celebrated in autumn every year. Historical records appear inconsistent about the name of the lunar month in which Diwali is observed. They also spend time with family and friends to enjoy good food and fireworks. Major celebrations occur on the third day of the five-day long festival . When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Dev Deepawali or Dev Diwali takes place on the full-moon night of the Hindu month of Kartika. 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. Diwali was not a public holiday in Pakistan from 1947 to 2016. [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. [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. All the days except Diwali are named using the designation in the Indian calendar. 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. 10,000 on this Diwali: ASSOCHAM survey, "Festival of Lights: All You Need to Know About Diwali", "DNA Explainer: What is Diwali Muhurat Trading and why it is best time to invest in stocks", "NextFins Celebrates Diwali With the Launch of INDF", "Prince Charles, Camilla celebrate Diwali in UK", "Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall Celebrate Diwali at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London", "Brown celebrates Diwali at 10, Downing Street, in a 'historic' first", "Pakistan parliament adopts resolution for Holi, Diwali, Easter holidays", "Muslim-majority Pakistan set to declare Holi, Diwali and Easter as public holidays", "Muslims join Hindus in Diwali celebrations in Pakistan's Peshawar", "Burns in the developing world and burn disasters", "Air Pollution: Delhi's air quality enters 'Red Zone' ahead of Diwali", "Diwali may bring 'severe' air pollution to Delhi, despite fireworks ban", "Firecrackers Not Only Pollute The Environment But Also Carry Cancer Causing Chemicals", "Diyas symbolise Diwali, crackers cause pollution: Delhi environment minister", The Ancient Origins of Diwali, Indias Biggest Holiday, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sembilan's Birthday, Anniversary of Installation of the Sultan of Terengganu, Declaration of Malacca City as Historical City, Declaration of George Town as World Heritage Site, Annunciation of the Virgin Mary / Annunciation of the Theotokos, Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust, Emancipation Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Fast in Honor of the Holy Mother of Lord Jesus, Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Nativity of Mary / Nativity of the Theotokos, Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, Virgin IslandsPuerto Rico Friendship Day, Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Diwali&oldid=1139371132, Articles containing Assamese-language text, Articles containing Bengali-language text, Articles containing Gujarati-language text, Articles containing Kannada-language text, Articles containing Konkani (individual language)-language text, Articles containing Maithili-language text, Articles containing Malayalam-language text, Articles containing Marathi-language text, Articles containing Punjabi-language text, Articles containing Nepali (macrolanguage)-language text, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, All Wikipedia articles written in Indian English, Articles using infobox templates with no data rows, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Ashvin Krishna Trayodashi, Ashvin Krishna Chaturdashi, Ashvin Amavasya, Kartik Shukla Pratipada, Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, 11 (Kali Chaudas/Hanuman Puja/Chhoti Diwali), This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 20:01. This year, Diwali will be on Thursday, Nov. 4. Where does Diwali get its name? (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) [171][172] Since 2009, Diwali has been celebrated every year at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister. There are many stories around the celebration of Diwali. Shopkeepers and small operations perform puja rituals in their office premises. This day marks the beginning of deepawali celebrations. In 2022, the five days of Diwali begin on October 22, with the most important festival date taking place on October 24. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. 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. The doors and windows of houses are kept open in the hope that Lakshmi will find her way inside and bless the residents with wealth and success. To learn more, visit ISA's Instagram. In India, the holiday always falls on the 15th of Kartik, the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar . Diwali is also known as Deepavali, Dipavali, Dewali, Deepawali, or the Festival of Lights. Ritually, in honour of Lakshmi, the female player always wins. ( See calendar ). 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. Naraka Chaturdashi is also a major day for purchasing festive foods, particularly sweets. Because Diwali is such a meaningful celebration, festivities are often planned years in advance. 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. 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. While Diwali spans five days, the holiday reaches its peak on day three this year, falling on Oct. 24, 2022. The third day is Diwali and the height of the festival. Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of Kartik which is considered as the most serene months according to the Hindu Lunar calendar. [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. When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023? [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. [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. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209 (accessed March 4, 2023). Diwali is for mere mortals; Dev Deepawali is the festival of the gods. iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath What Do People Do? Cook, Sharell. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. 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". amnta / primnta. 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. 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. 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. [115][144][145], The agricultural symbolism is also observed on this day by many Hindus as Annakut, literally "mountain of food". 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? In 2022, Diwali falls on October 24th which is a new moon day or Amavasya. It also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. [43] The lamps from the puja ceremony are then used to light more earthenware lamps, which are placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses,[130] while some diyas are set adrift on rivers and streams. [161] Other goods that are bought in substantial quantities during Diwali include confectionery and fireworks. They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha. These two festivals likely developed in tandem over their recent histories, states McDermott. The five days are as follows:. It is the main day of the Diwali festival. Naraka Chaturdashi is the second day of the festival on November 3. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue was founded as Secretariat for non-Christians by Pope Paul VI. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. This is done via a bathing ritual called Abhyanga Snan. It's observed on the 15th day of the month. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426 (accessed March 4, 2023). 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. People illuminate their homes, temples and offices with diyas, candles and lanterns. "There were a hundred-plus of us at my cousin's house each year," she explains. 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. [81], Many Hindus associate the festival with Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and wife of Vishnu. Diwali was celebrated as a signifier of triumph of good over evil after Krishna's Victory over Narakasura. According to the ancient calendar, Diwali is observed on Amavasya (or new moon) the 15th day of the month of Kartik, every year. [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. A lunar day is uniquely identified by three calendar elements: msa (lunar month), paka (lunar fortnight) and tithi (lunar day). According to Pintchman, the start of the 5-day Diwali festival is stated in some popular contemporary sources as the day Goddess Lakshmi was born from Samudra manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean of milk by the Devas (gods) and the Asuras (demons) a Vedic legend that is also found in several Puranas such as the Padma Purana, while the night of Diwali is when Lakshmi chose and wed Vishnu. These purchases are often gold and silver items or new utensils. [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 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. [120] The term "chhoti" means little, while "Naraka" means hell and "Chaturdashi" means "fourteenth". 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. Important Read: Tips to Celebrate Diwali in 2021 History and Significance of Diwali This year, celebrations began on Saturday, with the "main Diwali " falling today, Monday October 24, which marks the . 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.