[144] 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. [4], This day is commonly celebrated as Diwali in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka. [47][122], The youngest members in the family visit their elders, such as grandparents and other senior members of the community, on this day. Day two: Naraka Chaturdasi or Chhoti Diwali (small Diwali). Diwali - also known as Divali or Deepavali - is the Hindu festival of lights. For Sikhs, Diwali includes celebrations of an important event in 1619, when sixth guru Hargobind Singh was released from the Mughal prison - although Sikhs did celebrate Diwali prior to this. Fun Ways To Relieve Stress Effectively At The Workplace. For other uses, see, Indoor Diwali decorations in front of an altar, Line of lamps at Bedara Kannappa temple, Mysore. They install diyas, small earthen oil-filled lamps that they light up for the next five days, near Lakshmi and Ganesha iconography. One of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Diwali (or Divali) marks the beginning of the new year in the Hindu calendar. Lighting diya lamps and setting off fireworks are key parts of the festival. Each day has the following rituals and significance:[40], Dhanteras, derived from Dhan meaning wealth and teras meaning thirteenth, marks the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of Kartik and the beginning of Diwali. [139], The last day of the festival is called Bhai Duj (literally "brother's day"[142]), Bhau Beej, Bhai Tilak or Bhai Phonta. [161] About two-thirds of Indian households, according to the ASSOCHAM forecast, would spend between ₹5,000 (US$70) and ₹10,000 (US$140) to celebrate Diwali in 2017. A few, notably the Mughal emperor Akbar, welcomed and participated in the festivities,[60][61] whereas others banned such festivals as Diwali and Holi, as Aurangzeb did in 1665. This festive day is interpreted by some to symbolise Yama's sister Yamuna welcoming Yama with a tilaka, while others interpret it as the arrival of Krishna at his sister's, Subhadra, place after defeating Narakasura. [183] Other studies have stated that the fireworks of Diwali produce particulates and pollutants with a decay-life time of about one day. 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]. On 9 October 2017, the Supreme Court of India banned the sale, but not use, of fireworks in Delhi during the Diwali season,[179] with the assumption that banning the use of fireworks would substantially improve the air quality of Delhi. The day also marks a major shopping day to purchase new utensils, home equipment, jewellery, firecrackers, and other items. You'll be dazzled by the colourful Hindu celebration. Diwali, or Dipawali, is India 's biggest and most important holiday of the year. [41][108] According to David Kinsley, an Indologist and scholar of Indian religious traditions particularly in relation to goddess worship, Lakshmi symbolises three virtues: wealth and prosperity, fertility and abundant crops, as well as good fortune. Grewal, a scholar of Sikhism and Sikh history, Diwali in the Sikh tradition is older than the sixth Guru Hargobind legend. Thus, people worship Hanuman the day before Diwali's main day. [169][170] Barack Obama became the first president to personally attend Diwali at the White House in 2009. 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. It’s also an opportunity to spruce up the home, buy new clothes, and, of course, enjoy parties, feasting and an exchange of gifts. It celebrates the sister-brother bond, similar in spirit to Raksha Bandhan but it is the brother that travels to meet the sister and her family. A 2017 estimate states 50,000 tons (100 million pounds) of fireworks are exploded annually in India over the Diwali festival. [29][30] Newar Buddhists in Nepalese valleys also celebrate the Diwali festival over five days, in much the same way, and on the same days, as the Nepalese Hindu Diwali-Tihar festival. [106] Merchants seek Lakshmi's blessings in their ventures and will ritually close their accounting year during Diwali. The festivities vary between different regions. Diwali is celebrated around the world. Choti Diwali is the major shopping day for festive, Annakut community meals (left), Krishna holding. [111] Some Hindus, Jains and Sikhs will send Diwali greeting cards to family near and far during the festive season, occasionally with boxes of Indian confectionery. 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". [113] On this day, many Hindus clean their homes and business premises. Thus, during Diwali, we decorate our houses, light up lamps, meet relatives, cook good food, and pray for prosperity. Most of the injuries sustained are Group I type burns (minor) requiring only outpatient care.[186][187]. Top 10 Secret Beaches in India: The Water Gems of the... Top 5 Luxury Dining Restaurants in Hyderabad to Splurge Upon, Top 5 Ways Entrepreneurs Contribute To The Economy, Top 8 Shopping Destinations in Old Delhi Sadar Bazar. Merchant communities observe the festival with special enthusiasm as it … Also Diwali north Indian celebration is tied to Rama / Sita and South Indian Celebration tied to Krishna and Naragasura. [40][54], King Harsha refers to Deepavali, in the 7th century Sanskrit play Nagananda, as Dīpapratipadotsava (dīpa = light, pratipadā = first day, utsava = festival), where lamps were lit and newly engaged brides and grooms received gifts. Hindu temples on this day prepare and present "mountains of sweets" to the faithful who have gathered for darshan (visit). [152] It is traditionally a time when households purchase new clothing, home refurbishments, gifts, gold, jewellery,[153][154] and other large purchases particularly as the festival is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and such purchases are considered auspicious. [13][126][127] After the puja, people go outside and celebrate by lighting up patakhe (fireworks) together, and then share a family feast and mithai (sweets, desserts). It most likely began as … [40][81] 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. 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. A variety of entertainments are usually available for inhabitants of the local community to enjoy. [130] Vaishnava families recite Hindu legends of the victory of good over evil and the return of hope after despair on the Diwali night, where the main characters may include Rama, Krishna, Vamana or one of the avatars of Vishnu, the divine husband of Lakshmi. It is simple “if you are in Rome do as Romans do”. The third day is the day of Lakshmi Puja and the darkest night of the traditional month. [104] 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! In that way, it's not unlike the month(s)-long countdown to Christmas. Earlier in the season's fortnight, some welcome the souls of their ancestors to join the family for the festivities with the Mahalaya. The day before Diwali is remembered as Naraka Chaturdasi, the day on which Narakasura was killed by Krishna. [84][85], Trade and merchant families and others also offer prayers to Saraswati, who embodies music, literature and learning and Kubera, who symbolises book-keeping, treasury and wealth management. [8][9][10] One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". Some Hindu communities mark the last day as Bhai Dooj or the regional equivalent, which is dedicated to the bond between sister and brother,[22] 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. 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 Empire prison,[27] while Newar Buddhists, unlike other Buddhists, celebrate Diwali by worshipping Lakshmi, while the Hindus of Eastern India and Bangladesh generally celebrate Diwali, by worshipping goddess Kali. Diwali is the Hindu "festival of lights" which celebrates the New Year. A sister ritually feeding her brother on Bhai Duj-Diwali. Subhadra welcomes him with a tilaka on his forehead. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning “row of lights”. These two festivals likely developed in tandem over their recent histories, states McDermott. Dhanteras, Dhanatrayodashi, Yama Deepam (Day 1), Naraka Chaturdashi, Kali Chaudas, Chhoti Diwali, Hanuman Puja (Day 2), Annakut, Balipratipada (Padwa), Govardhan Puja (Day 4), Bhai Duj, Bhau-Beej, Vishwakarma Puja (Day 5), Hindus of eastern and northeastern states of India associate the festival with the goddess. [111], Diwali is a post-harvest festival celebrating the bounty following the arrival of the monsoon in the subcontinent. (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 Diwali in Mauritius will see the island transformed into a fairyland. [143] 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. [117] 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. A Month of Frenzy, Food and Family. 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. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs in Britain and all over the world. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue was founded as Secretariat for non-Christians by Pope Paul VI. Days to Diwali 2021. So, depending on the cycle of the month, Diwali falls either in October or November each year. But let’s get back to the main reason you are here for! [180] The smoke from the burning of the fields is carried by seasonal winds over the floodplain, where it is inverted by the colder winds and spread throughout the region for much of the winter.
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