When is Diwali Celebrated?
Diwali Festival 2022 Date
Monday, 24 October, 2022
According to Hindu Calendar, Diwali comes on Purnimanta – Amavasya of Kartik month (Krishna Paksha) or Amanta – Amavasya of Ashwin month (Krishna Paksha). This festival is mostly celebrated in the time between October and November.
But every year the specific date of its celebration changes. It is celebrated throughout the world in five days. In the Hindu lunar calendar, it is one the most important chapter for celebrating.
What is Diwali Festival?
India has many cultural festivals which are enriched with richness. Diwali is one of the major festival of India, its a National Festival and celebrated throughout India.
According to ancient legends Lord Ram came back to Ayodhaya after defeating demon Ravana so, to welcome Lord Ram people of Ayodhaya lights Diya (Lamps). Since then, the day when Lord Ram came back to Ayodhaya is celebrated as Diwali Festival.
Diwali is a festival of light and joy, and every year people celebrate it with a new desire. The festival comes with new hopes and destroys all darkness from society.
We know Diwali is an ancient festival that happened years before the birth of Jesus Christ so with time and due to the change in the language it got lots of names.
Different Names of Diwali Festival
Diwali is also known as Deepavali and when you write in the English Language then its spelling differs as Divali, Dipawali or Dipavali or Deepawali, etc.
The inner meaning of the Diwali Festival has an extreme significance, and it fills the hearts with the light of hope. People make a cup-shaped lamp known as ‘Deepak‘ and pour oil on it then inflame it with lots of hope.
Its historical significance is related to Hindu mythology. Street, house, shop, market place, office everywhere people inflame Diya, and the entire country looks like a land of light. Here some features of Diwali for you to know about the festival.
Where does the name Diwali came from ?
Basically the word Diwali has come from Sanskrit word Deepavali or Dipawali. The word Deepavali means the rows of light. As this festival shows the triumph of good over evil, the joy of light so, in every place like houses, shops, and public places are decorated with lots of oil lamps (Diya). Fireworks and sweets are the two most important activities happen on this day.
Why is Diwali Festival Celebrated?
We celebrate Diwali luxuriously, and there are some ancient stories behind it, and that is on this date are:-
First Legend behind Diwali Festival
Rama-Chandra returns his kingdom Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile with his people. In his exile, he fought against the demon king Ravana who kept Shri Rama-Chandra’s wife Sita forcefully. Up to the mark, this is the main reason we celebrate Diwali.
Second Legend behind Diwali Festival
Many people believe that it is a celebration of the marriage of Goddess Lakshmi, who is the goddess of wealth. According to legends during the time of Samudra Manthan when Goddess Laxmi comes out, she choose Lord Vishnu for marriage. Then, the marriage of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi has happened on the day of Diwali.
Third Legend behind Diwali Festival
In Bengali mythology, they immolated the festival in the name of their mother, Kali. The dark goddess Kali is the symbol of strength. Lord Ganesha is also worshiped on this day in many Hindu’s homes. The elephant-headed god is the symbol of wisdom and suitability. It is also celebrated as a sign of the defeat of Mahishasura.
How to Celebrate Diwali Festival?
Deepavali is a five-day-long festival. Before many days of Deepavali, people start cleaning and decorating their houses. We include the five-day activities given below.
Day First
On the first day, people usually go shopping, and they buy gold and silver specifically.
Day Second
The second day is used for cleaning and decorating the house.
Day Third
The third day is the main day of this festival. On this day, people set the fire on a cup-lamp(Diya). Street, home, office, shop everywhere there are lights. After the festival at night, people have a fest of meeting with friends and relatives.
Day Fourth
This is the day of husband and wife. Spouses spend their time together and exchange gifts.
Day Fifth
Sibling day is known as the fifth day. Brothers and sisters spend a joyous moment on this day.
The Tradition of Diwali Festival
- Lots of light and laps are glazed on the outside and inside the home.
- People visit their friends and family and take care of them.
- Legendary gods are being worshiped on this day.
- Fireworks and festivities are mingled spontaneously.
Special Food Dishes prepared for Diwali
As Indian people are food lovers, there are many variations and specialties in their food. People arrange various delicious food and sweets at Diwali Festival. Some food lists of it for you are mentioned.
- Mithai: Mithai is a little different from desert and candies usually.there are many kinds of mithai in India; actually Indian people love to eat sweets.
- Snakes: Masala tea, vegetable pakora, potato puri, paratha and there are many other snakes they make on this day
- Halwa: There are two kinds of halwa, first is Gajar Halwa, and the second is pumpkin halwa. Basically, they are made with grated vegetables and cooked with ghee. Sugar and milk are also used for making the desert soft and thick. Cardamon, nuts are also used for a sweet flavor.
- Laddu: This sweet little ball is made with flour and cooked with ghee or oil. For getting a variation, often sugar, nuts, and vegetables are used.
- Barfi: This is one kind of soft sweet made with condensed milk and other sweet ingredients only.
- Gulab jamun: This scones type sweet is prepared by sinking on the sugar syrup.
Definition of Diwali for Different Religions
A different opinion is enclosed on Diwali Festival differently.
Hindu religion has evidence of returning Rama and Sita after 14 years of exile. The mother Goddess Durga destroyed Mahishasura on this day, so this is also a religious view.
Sikhs also celebrate this day in commemorating the release of the Sixth Guru Har Gobind Singh from prison in 1619. The difference is here Sikhs celebrate the festival before this date.
The foundation of the Golden Temple in Amritsar which was made of gold on the Diwali date in 1577 is also the reason for celebrating Diwali
Jains also celebrate the day as a symbol of reaching a state called Moksha.
So the festival of joy and light is called Diwali. Diwali is not only a festival but also a sign. A sign of the triumph of good over evil power. The light of it refers to the destruction of darkness from society. People lit Diya everywhere for illuminating.
Check the Indian Festivals Calendar to know upcoming festivals of India at All Indian Festivals.
