Celebration of Diwali

1. Diwali is perhaps the most well known of the Hindu festivals.The word Diwali means rows of lighted lamps .Diwali is known as the festival of light because houses, shops and public places are decorated with small earthenware oil lamps called diyas. .....

History

2. Diwali dates back to ancient times in India, as a festival after the summer harvest in the Hindu calendar month of Karthikai. The festival is mentioned in Padma Purana, the Skanda Purana, and other Sanskrit Hindu scriptures the divas (lamps) are mentioned in Skanda Purana to symbolically represent parts of sun, the cosmic giver of light and energy to all life, who seasonally transitions in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik. .....

Religious significance in Hinduism

3. The religious significance of Diwali varies regionally within India, depending on the school of Hindu philosophy, regional myths, legends, and beliefs.Many see Diwali honouring the return of the lord Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana from exile, as told in the ancient Hindu epic called the Ramayana. To some, Diwali marks the return of Pandavas after 12 years of Vanvas and one year of agyatavas in the other ancient Hindu epic called th .....

Religious significance in Jainism

4. Diwali has special significance in Jainism. Lord Mahavira, the last of the Jain Tirthankar of this era, attained Nirvana or Moksh on this day at Pavapuri on 15 October 527 BCE, on Chaturdashi of Kartika. According to the Kalpasutra by Acharya Bhadrabahu,3rd century BC, many gods were present there, illuminating the darkness.Therefore, Jains celebrate Diwali as a day of remembering Mahavira. .....

Spiritual significance

5. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs to mark historical events, stories or myths, but they all spiritually mark the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, hope over despair.In the Yoga, Vedanta, and Samkhya schools of Hindu philosophy, a central belief is that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. The celebration of Diwali as the .....

Description and rituals

6. Diwali is a five day festival in many regions of India, with Diwali night centering on the new moon the darkest night at the end of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin and the start of the month of Kartika. In the Common Era calendar,Diwali typically falls towards the end of October, or first half of November each year.The darkest night of autumn lit with diyas,candles and lanterns,makes the festival of lights particularly memorable. Diwali is a .....

The Origin of Diwali

7. Historically, the origin of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important harvest festival . However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali or Deepawali.Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali ,the dark goddess of strength.Lord Ganesha,the elephant headed God,the symbol of auspic .....

The meaning of diwali

8. The meanings of Diwali, its symbols and rituals, and the reasons for celebration are innumerable. Diwali celebrates Lord Rama s glorious and long awaited return to his Kingdom of Ayodhya after his fourteen long years of exile in the forests. It commemorates Lord Krishna victory over the demon Narakaasura who had kidnapped and terrorized the gopis of Vrindavan. When the evil Naraka was finally killed by Bhagwan Krishna and Satyabhaama, he begged p .....

A Fresh Start

9. Diwali also marks the new year. For some, the day of Diwali itself is the first day of the new year, and for others the new year day is the day following Diwali. But, for all this season is one of heralding in the New Year.In the joyous mood of this season, we clean our homes, our offices, our rooms, letting the light of Diwali enter all the corners of our lives. We begin new checkbooks, diaries and calendars.It is a day of starting fresh.On thi .....

These Four Days

10. Each day of Diwali has its own tale, legend and myth to tell. The first day of the festival Naraka Chaturdasi marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. Amavasya , the second day of Deepawali, marks the worship of Lakshmi , the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the tyrant .....

The Significance of Lights & Firecrackers

11. All the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance and a story to tell. The illumination of homes with lights and the skies with firecrackers is an expression of obeisance to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity. According to one belief, the sound of fire crackers are an indication of the joy of the people living on earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful state. Still another possible reason .....

The Tradition of Gambling

12. The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva , and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. Diwali is associated with wealth and prosperity in many ways, and the festival of Dhanteras is celebrated two days before the festival of lights. .....

From Darkness Unto Light

13. In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope. From darkness unto light the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks .....

How to Celebrate Diwali

14. Diwali is a 5 day festival, celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil. It is observed each year at some point during mid October to mid November in many countries such as India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Nepal, or where there are large Indian communities living such as in Canada, Britain, South Africa and New Zealand.Just as Christians regard Christmas as a special and important holiday, Diwali is a festival that has as much meaning for Hin .....

Learn what Diwali is

15. Diwali is also known as Deepavali, the deep meaning light or lamp , and avali meaning row This row of lights is represented by lighting lamps everywhere during Diwali. The reasons behind celebrating Diwali differ and are outlined under Tips.Diwali consists of three to five days of celebrations (the duration depends on where you come from or derive the celebratory traditions from) .....

Clean the house

16. Clean the house and business premises thoroughly before the first Diwali day, or the Dhanteras. Do the laundry, clean all the rooms and sort out your papers in both your home and business. It is like a spring cleaning of sorts, a cleansing ritual to rid yourself of any unnecessary elements in your environment.Draw small footprints using rice flour and vermillion powder over your house this is a way of indicating that you are awaiting the arri .....

Make the entrance way to your home or business colourful using the traditional motifs of Rangoli designs

17. These include bells, flower garlands, wall hangings, mirrors, LED lights, etc. This is a joyful way to welcome the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. Rangoli designs can be found across the internet. To help get you started, this section provides some examples to inspire your design. .....

Burn lamps every night during the festival

18. In the evening, light small oil lamps (called diyas ) and place them around the home. Turn all the lights on and light some candles. The lamps symbolize knowledge or one s inner light, which brings about inner peace and fights off any traces of darkness and ignorance. .....

Light some firecrackers and fireworks

19. These are a common part of Diwali, used to symbolize warding off evil from your surroundings. They are usually set off in greatest numbers on the actual day of Diwali (the third day).Take care to keep pets and small children indoors and away from the excitement and frightening noises. See this article for more information. .....

Wear new clothes and jewels on the second and third days

20. If you are a woman, try to obtain a sari, the traditional Indian dress for women which is 9 yards of fabric draped elegantly at the waist and across the left shoulder. Women may also wear a salwar kurta (Indian flowing tunic with matching pants or leggings and long shawl or scarf).Men normally wear kurthas, the national clothes for Indian men. This is a knee length (usually embroidered) silk or cotton tunic and matching pants. .....

Go vegetarian

21. For many Indians, Diwali is a meatless holiday.There are not any set dishes, so the choices can be varied but it is important to include sweets, as Diwali is about sweets. Some suggestions for meals to make during Diwali can be found in Vegetarian Indian Dishes. .....

Perform a Lakshmi pooja

22. This is a ritual performed on Diwali day (the third day) in order to seek divine blessings from the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi, who helps those who strive to achieve wealth. It consists of an elaborate ritual using grains, leaves, coins, and idols to prepare a ceremony. During this ritual, you can invoke the Goddess by reciting the Vedic mantras or by thinking of her being showered with gold coins with two elephants standing one each side of her .....

Join public space celebrations of Diwali

23. Even if you do not practice Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, or Sikhism, you can still join in the Diwali celebrations that are held in many public spaces. For example, in New Zealand both the capital Wellington and the city of Auckland, and various towns, hold public Diwali Festivals that welcome all comers. Go and see what is happening, join in the fun, and celebrate with everyone else.Attend public concerts, parties, celebratory events, and feasts .....

Diwali Activities

24. India is a land of diverse culture and traditions. Hundreds of festivals are celebrated here in a year, giving it at least one occasion for festivities and celebrations in every month. Despite a clutter of festivals, the Diwali festival in the country holds a special place. It is one of the most auspicious and grand occasions celebrated with great zeal and warmth among all races and religions in the country, not only from religious, but also from .....

Chhoti Diwali

25. Diwali is a festival, which brings a series of festivals with it. One after another we get a chance to celebrate five festivals together. Narak Chaturdashi is one of these festivals and it is celebrated on the second day of Diwali celebrations, just one day before the actual Diwali celebrations. The Narak Chaturdashi, falls on the fourteenth day of the Hindi month, Kartik is more popular by the name of Chhoti Diwali. It is celebrated with same ze .....

Diwali Lamps

26. Illuminating the homes and premises with beautiful earthen diyas, on the festival of lights Diwali is a good old tradition.The traditional oil lamp diya remains the center of attraction of the occasion. It has evolved from being a brown colored clay lamp to colorful lamp, made of different materials.While earthen diyas is the traditional way of illuminating the homes and premises on the festival, today, with competition and the varying needs of .....

Diwali Diya

27. Diya is a small earthen lamp primarily lit during Diwali, the festival of lights. Also, known as deep , diya is traditionally made of clay. Lighting a deep during aarti is a custom in the Hindu culture. During Diwali, the earthen lamps are used for illuminating the entire home and premises, apart from aarti. The diya is filled with ghee or oil, which work as fuel for it. A wick, usually made of cotton, is inserted into the diya. Today, with the .....

Diwali Pooja Thali

28. The festival of Diwali is not just limited to bursting of firecrackers, shopping, wearing new clothes and sharing sweet delicacies, decorating homes and offices attractively, but also about worship of the Almighty to ensure health, wealth and prosperity. The ceremonious occasion, which lasts for five days of extravaganza, encompasses spiritualism in it, which reminds us of its connection to the Hindu mythology. This is the reason why, people indu .....

Puja Thali Decoration

29. Though people often relate Diwali to the crackers, lights and sweets, the most important aspect of the Diwali is the Lakshmi Ganesh Poojan. People all over the country worship the Goddess of Wealth and the God of Wisdom this day in order to seek wisdom and prosperity in their home.The Lakhsmi Ganesh Poojan is a very elaborate affair where the entire family sits together and offers prayers to the deities with several auspicious materials like flow .....

Diwali Decorations

30. Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Hindus across the globe. In India, it is a five day festival that brings with it good cheers. It is the time to celebrate the victory of good over the evil. People clean and decorate their homes in the best possible way, so that Goddess Lakshmi enters their premises and showers blessings on them. There is a number of ways to decorate home during the festival. If you want some bright ideas, then re .....

Diwali Greetings

31. Being the festival of lights, Diwali in India is a holy tradition and it symbolizes the emergence of light in the darkness, the triumph of truth and the extinction of ignorance and arrival of wisdom. The festival is celebrated with great joy and ecstasy all over the country. It is a glorious occasion to rejuvenate your relationship with your loved ones. It is the time to get back to your long lost friends and acquaintance and celebrate the festiv .....

Diwali Torans

32. Apart from crackers and festivities, Diwali festival is also popular for the renovation and decoration of one home. The main idea behind the custom of decorating the homes and offices on Diwali is to please and attract the Goddess of wealth, Goddess Lakshmi as it is popularly said that she enters only in a clean and decorated home. Thus apart from the entire home, the decoration of the entrance of a place, which is called dwaar , also becomes ve .....

North India

33. As Diwali is supposedly celebrated on the occasion when Lord Rama along with wife Sita and brother Lakshman returned to his capital Ayodhya, after defeating and killing the evil King Ravana and spending fourteen years in exile. It was a new moon day of the Kartik season. His homecoming was thus greatly celebrated with lights, fireworks, bursting of crackers and merriment. This tradition of Diwali celebration continued to be observed to this day i .....

Western India

34. The western states of India celebrate Diwali for four days, the preparations for which begin at least 15 days prior to the final celebration.People engage themselves in a month long shopping and making preparations for the occasion. Markets all over make arrangements to cater the month requirements of Diwali shoppers and thus in way boost their business transactions as well.The Gujarati community starts celebrations in different ways. Just the ni .....

Southern India

35. Well Diwali in the southern part takes a different turn for various exclusive Diwali customs are observed in Tamil Nadu. The people of Tamil Nadu observe this once in a lifetime event, Thalai Deepavali, which is observed by newlyweds who are entitled to celebrate their first diwali after marriage in the bride parental home. According to the traditions associated, the newly married couple, after taking blessings from the elders are supposed to bur .....

Rural India

36. The rural India however celebrates Diwali with different motives and intentions, for it is the harvest festival for them. Thus every village in the country celebrate this festival with utmost vibe and energy for Diwali is the time when farmers celebrate with joy and offer praises to God for granting them a good crop. Thus various customs are followed in order to honor the deity. The primary custom is the drawing of colored Rangoli or Kolam design .....

In other parts of the world

37. Diwali is celebrated around the world, particularly in countries with significant populations of Hindu, Jain and Sikh origin. These include Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom,United Arab Emirates, and the United States. With more understanding of Indian cult .....

Festival of peace

38. On this festive occasion, Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities also mark charitable causes, kindness, and for peace. For example, at the international border, every year on Diwali, Indian forces approach Pakistani forces and offer traditional Indian sweets on the occasion of Diwali. The Pakistani soldiers anticipating the gesture, return the goodwill with an assortment of Pakistani sweets. .....

Economics of Diwali

39. Diwali marks a major shopping period in India. In terms of consumer purchases and economic activity, Diwali is the equivalent of Christmas in the west. It is traditionally a time when households purchase new clothing, home refurbishments, gifts, gold and other large purchases. The festival celebrates Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and investment, spending and purchases are considered auspicious. Diwali is a peak buying season for .....

Issues of Air pollution

40. Scholars report that air pollution worsens not as much during fireworks, but after fireworks celebration is over, with peak PM2.5 about four times worse than pre Diwali levels, and average levels about two times a normal day. This study indicated that there is high accumulation of PM2.5 generated due to fireworks on Diwali festival which remains suspended in the air. The peak pollution lasts for about one day, and the pollutant concentrations ret .....

Issues of Burn injuries

41. There is an increase in burn injuries in India during Diwali from fireworks. A firework called anar (fountain) has been found to cause 65% of the injuries. Adults, not children, are typical victims. Newspapers advise use of cold water splash immediately after burn, which along with proper nursing of the wound helps reduce complications. Vast majority of burns are Group I type burns (minor) requiring outpatient care. .....

Diwali Prayer

42. Asato ma sat gamaya | (???? ?? ?????? ?)Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya | (???? ?? ??????????? ?)Mrityu ma amrutam gamaya | (?????????? ????? ??? ?)Om shanti shanti shantihi || (? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?) .....

Customs of Diwali

43. Many interesting rituals and traditions have been attached to the celebrations of Diwali. It is a five day long festival, which is celebrated with fun and fervor. The blissful festival calls for the exchange of gifts, sweets and heartfelt wishes. Fire crackers are burst and people enjoy wearing new clothes, on the auspicious day. Although the way of merrymaking is different and the customs are different, the feel among the people across the lengt .....