when is diwali every year

This year, Diwali or Deepavali will take place on October 24. [56], Diwali was also described by numerous travelers from outside India. [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. 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. Some diyas may also be set adrift on streams and river and the evening is marked with fireworks. It's observed on the 15th day of the month. Indian Independence Day Independence Day is celebrated every year during August 15. In other regions, parents invite a newly married daughter, or son, together with their spouses to a festive meal and give them gifts. Merchants perform religious ceremonies and open new account books. [115][144][145], The agricultural symbolism is also observed on this day by many Hindus as Annakut, literally "mountain of food". Diwali is observed as a Gazetted Holiday throughout the nation. [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. 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. It is a time when families come together, friends are reunited and everyone celebrates the triumph of good over evil. These lamps symbolize the light of inner spirituality that protects us from the spiritual darkness that threatens to engulf us. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. When Is Diwali in 2021, 2022 and 2023? [112] [o] The looms, tools of trade, machines and workplaces are cleaned and prayers offered to these livelihood means. [68] In his paper on The Lunar Year of the Hindus, Jones, then based in Bengal, noted four of the five days of Diwali in the autumn months of Aswina-Cartica [sic] as the following: Bhutachaturdasi Yamaterpanam (2nd day), Lacshmipuja dipanwita (the day of Diwali), Dyuta pratipat Belipuja (4th day), and Bhratri dwitiya (5th day). 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 is intended to signify a brother's duty to protect his sister as well as sisters blessing their brothers. [81], Many Hindus associate the festival with Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and wife of Vishnu. Homes are decorated, and floors inside and out are covered with rangoli, consisting of elaborate designs made of colouredrice, sand, or flower petals. [184], During Diwali, the levels of suspended particulate matter increase. [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". [23] Another aspect of the festival is remembering the ancestors. Omissions? [47][b], The five-day celebration is observed every year in early autumn after the conclusion of the summer harvest. The day before Diwali is remembered as Naraka Chaturdasi, the day on which Narakasura was killed by Krishna. [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 word "avali" means row and "deepa . Each day has a different name and rituals. 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? 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. Diwali (Deepavali) Nov 27, 2023: Guru Nanak's Birthday: Dec 25, 2023: Christmas Day: Which are the other holidays in India? 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. Diwali is celebrated for five days, each with its own special significance. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. This is the day when Hindu, Jain and Sikh temples and homes are aglow with lights, thereby making it the "festival of lights". In some months, a day needs to be dropped to correlate with a shorter lunar cycle. 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". A Hindu devotee lights oil lamps at a temple during . The main festival is on Sunday, but festivities begin on Friday, a day called Dhanteras. [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". Some 200,000 New Yorkers celebrate Diwali each year, per state Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar . This year's festival begins on Oct. 22. [n] Vishwakarma is the presiding Hindu deity for those in architecture, building, manufacturing, textile work and crafts trades. 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. 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. [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. 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. When is Navaratri in 2021, 2022, and 2023? 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). Here is everything you need to know about the festival and how it is celebrated. 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. These two festivals likely developed in tandem over their recent histories, states McDermott. [169][r], Many governments encourage or sponsor Diwali-related festivities in their territories. [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. [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. Sharell Cook lives in Mumbai full-time and writes about India travel. [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. 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. Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune and prosperity, is the primary deity worshiped during Diwali. 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. Learn Religions. The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. 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. [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. It's observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. The course of the five days includes cleaning . One tradition starts a new month from the new moon, while the other starts it from the full moon. This is followed by Choti Diwali the next day and Diwali on November 4. What makes Dev Deepawali different from Diwali? When people are exposed to these pollutant particles, they may suffer from eye, nose, and throat-related problems. The height of Diwali is celebrated on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of Ashvin or Kartika. This festival gets its name from "Deepa" meaning "Light" and "Avali" meaning "Row". Though technically religious, it's also become a cultural event in North America that's celebrated with sweets and special foods. Scholars contest the 527 BCE date and consider Mahavira's biographical details as uncertain. According to Truschke, Aurangzeb did so because he found the festivals "distasteful" and also from "concerns with public safety" lurking in the background. Every occasion represents two main things: 1. During the festival, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs illuminate their homes, temples and workspaces with diyas (oil lamps), candles and lanterns[16] Hindus, in particular, have a ritual oil bath at dawn on each day of the festival. On the Gregorian calendar, the festival falls between October and November. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Food is a major focus with families partaking in feasts and sharing mithai. [116][114] Women and children decorate doorways within homes and offices with rangolis, colourful designs made from rice flour, flower petals, colored rice or colored sand,[23] while the boys and men decorate the roofs and walls of family homes, markets, and temples and string up lights and lanterns. [43][55], Emperor Harsha refers to Deepavali, in the 7th-century Sanskrit play Nagananda, as Dpapratipadotsava (dpa = light, pratipad = first day, utsava = festival), where lamps were lit and newly engaged brides and grooms received gifts. This year, it begins in the first week of November from 2nd-6th. [13][14][93][94], A scholar of Jain and Nivethan, states that in Jain tradition, Diwali is celebrated in observance of "Mahavira Nirvana Divas", the physical death and final nirvana of Mahavira. 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]. It coincides with the new moon (amvasy) and is deemed the darkest night of the Hindu lunisolar calendar. Diwali is celebrated over five days in most of North India. In Bengal the goddess Kali is worshipped. Every year on the darkest night in the northern hemisphere, millions illuminate their homes and streets to celebrate the victory of good over evil. Dev Deepawali or Dev Diwali takes place on the full-moon night of the Hindu month of Kartika. People will wear their best clothes and pray to Lakshmi as lamps are lit outside homes and temples. Make sure you check the dates online if you plan on visiting India during Diwali. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1539426 (accessed March 4, 2023). In 2022, the five days of Diwali begin on October 22, with the most important festival date taking place on October 24. Diwali is usually celebrated twenty days after the Vijayadashami festival, with Dhanteras, or the regional equivalent, marking the first day of the festival when celebrants prepare by cleaning their homes and making decorations on the floor, such as rangolis. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and an even deeper meaning is to drive away our inner darkness with light. Das, Subhamoy. [141][142] In another interpretation, it is thought to reference the legend of Parvati and her husband Shiva playing a game of dyuta (dice) on a board of twelve squares and thirty pieces, Parvati wins. Diwali Celebrations Dates in Different Regions Diwali 2023 (Deepavali 2023) is on Sunday, November 12th in India. The word Deepawali comes from the Sanskrit word deep, which means an Indian lantern/lamp. "When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? Thus, people worship Hanuman the day before Diwali's main day. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The 5 days of Diwali [183] These invisible yet harmful particles affect the environment and in turn, put people's health at stake. It is an official holiday in a dozen countries, while the other festive days are regionally observed as either public or optional restricted holidays in India. [98][99] This traditional belief of the origin of Diwali, and its significance to Jains, is reflected in their historic artworks such as paintings. The Diwali-related inscription is the 4th inscription and it includes the year Vikrama Era 1268 (c. 1211 CE). More Topics 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. Diwali is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik. Hit ctrl+D to bookmark this page, and share this page with your friends. Diwali falls on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik, which is the new moon day of the first month of the lunar year. (2021, September 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. [167] In 2020, the INDF ETF was launched to mark the start of Diwali. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi Devi is worshipped on this day and it is customary to purchase precious articles. This year, it begins in the first week of November from 2nd-6th. The festival falls sometime between October and November. 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. What are the 5 Diwali Days in 2022? The Hindu calendar is based on both the sun and moon (while the Gregorian calendar is only based on the sun). In South India the festival marks Krishnas defeat of the demon Narakasura. [147] In historic times, this was a day in autumn when brothers would travel to meet their sisters, or invite their sister's family to their village to celebrate their sister-brother bond with the bounty of seasonal harvests. When Is Diwali (Deepavali)? 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. iStock.com/triloks What Do People Do? This year, the biggest day of festivities (Lakshmi Puja) will take place on November 4, 2021. There are many stories around the celebration of Diwali. Diwali (English: /dwli/), Dewali, Divali,[3] or Deepavali (IAST: dpval), also known as the Festival of Lights,[4][5] related to Jain Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti, Sohrai, and Bandna, is a religious[6] celebration in Indian religions. A variety of sweets are prepared using flour, semolina, rice, chickpea flour, dry fruit pieces powders or paste, milk solids (mawa or khoya) and clarified butter (ghee). Diwali is typically a four- or five-day event, starting two days before the new moon and extending two days afterward. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. About Diwali. Every autumn, the observance sees millions of people attend. The Lacshmipuja dipanwita, remarked Jones, was a "great festival at night, in honour of Lakshmi, with illuminations on trees and houses".[68][f]. The festivities vary between different regions. iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath What Do People Do? A variety of entertainments are usually available for inhabitants of the local community to enjoy. 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. This year, Diwali will be on Thursday, Nov. 4. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 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. A solar calendar (like the Gregorian one) has an average of 365.24 days. Diwali 2021: What the holiday . [100], Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas in remembrance of the release of Guru Hargobind from the Gwalior Fort prison by the Mughal emperor Jahangir and the day he arrived at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. 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). [109] Textual evidence suggests that Bengali Hindus worshipped Lakshmi before the colonial era, and that the Kali puja is a more recent phenomenon. [123], This day is commonly celebrated as Diwali in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka. As per India's official holiday calendar, Diwali in 2020 will be on Saturday, November 14, coinciding with the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. "Deepawali" and "Dipawali" redirect here. It is the main day of the Diwali festival. [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. It is usually celebrated on October or November every year. The auspicious time to conduct Lakshmi Puja will begin at 6:09 pm and end at 8:04 pm, according to the Drik Panchang. It is celebrated in October or November each year. Small business owners give gifts or special bonus payments to their employees between Dhanteras and Lakshmi Pujan. Deepavali means a row of lights, where 'deep' means light and 'avali' means row. The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahaviras holy knowledge. The first day, November 2, is Dhanteras. Hindus celebrate Diwali. It is observed by the Vajrayana Buddhist minority among the Newarpeople of Nepal. 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). [28][29][30], Diwali is also a major cultural event for the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain diaspora. It is traditionally a puja, or a celebration that worships, honors, and shows devotion to the divine. Ths festival of lights, i.e. 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. [121] It is also celebrated as Roop Chaudas in some North Indian households, where women bathe before sunrise, while lighting a Diya (lamp) in the bath area, they believe it helps enhance their beauty it is a fun ritual that young girls enjoy as part of festivities. Amavasya is thought of as the darkest night of the year and is holy to Hindus. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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 usually falls in October or November. 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. It is celebrated in India and other countries such as Nepal, Malaysia, Fiji, and Mauritius. [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).