Diwali

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(Redirected from Divali)
Diwali / Dipavali /Deepavali
Diwali / Dipavali /Deepavali
Rangoli decorations, made using coloured powder, are popular during Diwali
Observed byHindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists[1]
TypeIndian, Cultural, Seasonal
BeginsDhanteras, 2 days before Diwali
EndsBhai Dooj, 2 days after Diwali
DateKartik Amavasya (Varies per Hindu Lunisolar calendar)
2023 date12 November (Sunday)
2024 date6 November (Monday)
CelebrationsDiya and lighting, home decoration, shopping, fireworks, puja (prayers), gifts, performing religious rituals, feast and sweets
Related toKali Puja, Diwali (Jainism), Bandi Chhor Divas

Diwali (also: Deepawali)[2] is one of India's biggest festival. The word 'Deepawali' means rows of lighted lamps. It is a Festival of Lights and Hindus celebrate it with joy.[3] During this festival, people light up their houses and shops with mall cup-shaped oil lamp made of baked clay). They worship the Lord Ganesha for welfare and prosperity marks the beginning of a new year. People clean and decorate their house before the festival. They do colorful rangoli art works on floors.

Deepawali is celebrated and is a public holiday in cous, shops school's offices and temples are thoroughly cleaned, whitewashed and decorated with pictures, toys and flowers. On the day of Deepawali, people put on their best clothes and exchange greetings, gifts and sweets with their friends and family.

At night, buildings are illuminated with earthen lamps, candle-stickweed. People buy sweets for their own families and also send them as presents to their friends and relatives. The Goddess Lakshmi is also worshiped in the form of earthen images, silver rupee. Hindus believe that on this day, Lakshmi only enters houses which are neat and tidy. People offer prayers for their own health, wealth and prosperity. They leave the light on in buildings believing that Lakshmi will not have difficulty in finding her way in.

Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the Hindus. It comes on Amavasya day in the month of Kartik. Both rich and poor wear new clothes on this day. Lots of sweets are made. People light divas and burn crackers. They ex- change greetings and sweets. Goddess Laxmi is worshipped on this day.

It is a festival of light and during this day people in India burst firecracker and draw rangoli on the floor.

References[change | change source]

  1. Charles M Townsend, The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0199699308, page 440
  2. Mead, Jean (February 2008). How and why Do Hindus Celebrate Divali?. Evans Brothers. ISBN 978-0-237-53412-7.
  3. Ramnarine, Tina K. (2013-10-18). Musical Performance in the Diaspora. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-96956-3.

Other websites[change | change source]

Diwali Holds A Special Place In The Hearts Of Millions, Transcending Boundaries Of Region, Culture, And Religion.