In the Jainist faith, Mahavira is the most recent Jain Tirthankara (enlightened spiritual teacher). For Jains, Diwali draws heightened attention to Mahavira’s moksha (liberation) from the mortal cycle of life and death.
It’s also a very important holiday for those who follow Jainism. How Other Religions Celebrate Diwaliĭiwali isn’t only a celebration for Hindus. One of the first days of the new year brings the focus back to the family.īhai Dooj celebrates the bond between siblings, relatives, and other family members, with families uniting once more around a delicious feast. Gift-giving often occurs on this day, with friends and family wishing each other the best of luck in the coming year. This day is also known as Balipratipada or Annakut, and it celebrates the first day of the Vikrama (Hindu) calendar as well as Krishna’s defeat of the king of the gods, Indra. Once everyone’s together, the food and fireworks become the stars of the show, with many exchanging sweets like boxes of mithai and ladoos. On this day, families light candles, fireworks, and diyas to seek blessings from Lakshmi to provide prosperity for their loved ones. The third day of Diwali is when the festivities really kick off. Many decorate their homes with rangoli and clay lamps. On this day, otherwise known as Choti Diwali, Indians celebrate Krishna’s destruction of Narakasura (powerful demon). Dhanterasĭuring Dhanteras, the first day of Diwali, many families dedicate their days to purchasing small items of gold or kitchen utensils and cleaning their homes to celebrate Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Like many other holidays worldwide, Diwali takes place over many days, with each day holding its own significance and meaning. The common, overarching symbolism is ‘the victory of light over darkness, which is also interpreted as the victory of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. The significance of the festival varies drastically in different regions and religions.
#Diwali countdown windows#
Many also leave their doors and windows open to invite Lakshmi and her blessings inside their home. Many furnish their homes with rangoli, patterned art made with colored sand, rice flour, flower petals, or other materials. One of the beauties of the holiday lies in Diwali’s decorations. Some celebrate Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth), others worship Ganesh (the god of beginnings) or Rama (the seventh avatar of Vishnu), and others still simply enjoy the opportunity to be amongst friends and family. From the ritual of annual home cleaning (many go to the extent of getting their houses whitewashed), lighting up the house with ‘diyas’ or earthen lamps to putting together elaborate feasts, the five days of celebration can be best expressed as a time of unparalleled love and happiness. And just like Christmas, the traditions and customs might differ widely depending on where you’re celebrating.įamilies make grand preparations to usher in the festivities each year before and during Diwali. In 2022, the main day of the holiday, will come around on Monday, October 24th - so mark your calendars for a Diwali countdown!ĭiwali is celebrated by over a billion people worldwide. On the Gregorian calendar, it usually falls somewhere from mid-October to mid-November. Because the holiday is based around a lunar calendar, the date shifts from year-to-year. In total, Diwali lasts for five days, charting the end of one year on the Hindu calendar and bringing in the new.
While the country celebrates the festival in unique ways in various regions, it still brings everyone together to share joy and cheer. Today, the festival is celebrated in almost every Indian household in the form of pujas (prayers) that are meant to bring home wealth and prosperity. The name originates from “dipavali” a Sanskrit term that roughly translates to “row of lights.” This festival (known as Diwali in North India and Deepavali in South India) is one of the biggest holidays and religious festivals in Hinduism and other faiths like Sikhism and Jainism. Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, is celebrated with gusto the world over.
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