Diwali is the most important this year’s festival in india — and especially for Hindus.
This day is celebrated by more than a billion people across faiths in the world’s most populous country and diaspora. People participate in this event for five days. celebratory gatheringfireworks displays, feasts, prayers.
Diwali comes from the word ‘Deepavali’ which means ‘row of lights’. During the celebration, rows of traditional clay oil lamps are lit outside the house to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
Diwali dates are based on the Hindu lunar calendar
The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar and usually fall in late October or early November.
This year the holiday will be celebrated on October 20th.
The underlying theme of Diwali
Diwali is a major religious festival for Hindus, but it is also celebrated by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. The origin story of Diwali varies from region to region. All of these stories have one underlying theme. It is the victory of good over evil.
reporter deepa bhalasThe name shares linguistic origins with Diwali. Deepa means light in Sanskrit.
In southern India, Diwali celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Naraka, who is said to have imprisoned women and tormented his subjects. In northern India, Diwali celebrates the triumphant return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshmana from 14 years of forest exile.
Celebrations include light displays, fireworks, and banquets
This festival has many unique traditions that vary from region to region. What all celebrations have in common are lights, fireworks, feasts, new clothes, and prayers.
– In southern India, many people take warm oil baths early in the morning as a physical and spiritual cleansing symbolizing bathing in the sacred Ganges River.
– In the north, it is common to worship the goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes wealth and prosperity.
Gambling is a popular tradition as it is believed that those who gamble on Diwali night will prosper throughout the year. Many people buy gold on the first day of Diwali, known as Dhanteras. This is an act that is believed to bring good luck.
Setting off firecrackers is a cherished tradition, as is exchanging sweets and gifts among friends and family. Diwali usually features rangoli, which are geometric floral designs drawn on the floor using colorful powders. While several northern states had imposed partial or total bans to combat rising air pollution levels during festivals, India’s Supreme Court recently “Green Fireworks” It is considered to be less polluted.
Some other religions have their own Diwali stories
Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs have their own Diwali stories.
-Jains see Diwali as the day when Lord Mahavira, the last great teacher, attained Nirvana, the liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
– Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chho Divas, which coincides with Diwali, to commemorate the release of Guru Hargobind, a revered figure of the faith who was imprisoned by Mughal emperor Jahangir.
-Buddhists consider this day to be the day when the Hindu king Ashoka, who ruled in the 3rd century BC, converted to Buddhism.
New in 2025: California makes Diwali an official state holiday
On October 7, California became the third state in the United States to be designated as such. Diwali becomes official holiday across the state.
The law will go into effect on January 1 and will allow public schools and community colleges to close for Diwali. State employees can choose to take time off, and public school students will be excused from absences to celebrate the holiday. The new law recognizes that Diwali is also celebrated by Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.
Pennsylvania will be the first U.S. state to make Diwali a statewide holiday in 2024, followed by Connecticut earlier this year. June 2023, New York City Diwali officially declared as a public school holiday. Some school districts in New Jersey also have holidays in place.
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