Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, notably Newar Buddhists. The festival usually lasts five days and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". The festival is widely associated with Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity, with many other regional traditions connecting the holiday to Sita and Rama, Vishnu, Krishna, Yama, Yami, Durga, Kali, Hanuman, Ganesha, Kubera, Dhanvantari, or Vishvakarman. Furthermore, it is, in some regions, a celebration of the day Lord Rama returned to his kingdom Ayodhya with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana after defeating Ravana in Lanka and serving 14 years of exile. In the lead-up to Diwali, celebrants will prepare by cleaning, renovating, and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas and rangolis.
| Also called | Deepavali |
| Observed by | Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, some Buddhists (notably Newar Buddhists) |
| Type | Religious, cultural, seasonal |
| Significance | See below |
| Celebrations | Diya lighting, puja, home decoration, shopping, fireworks, fasting, gifts, feast and sweets |
| Date | Amavasya of Kartik month, (Date varies per Hindu calendar) |
| date | Amavasya of Kartik month, (Date varies per Hindu calendar) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Diwali (Jainism), Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti, Sohrai, Bandna |
About Diwali
Celebrated by Hindus and other religious sects such as Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, it is a four or five-day long festival dedicated to celebrating the perseverance of light over darkness. Traditions include the large-scale lighting of temples as well as the lighting of oil lamps called diyas inside and outside individual households.
Achievement of Diwali
It is celebrated in Autumn across the Northern Hemisphere and in Spring across the Southern Hemisphere. The roots of the celebration date back to the first century AD.
Top Facts You Did Not Know About Diwali
Diwali Category.. Diwali (Jainism) – Diwali's significance in Jainism.. Tihar – Nepali version of Diwali.. Swanti – Newar version of Diwali.. Bandi Chhor Divas – Sikh festival that coincides with Diwali.. Sohrai – Harvest festival that coincides with Diwali.. Bandna – Agrarian festival that coincides with Diwali.. Public holidays in Singapore.. Sikh festivals.. Jain festivals.. Public holidays in Malaysia.. Festivals in Nepal.. Public holidays in India.. Autumn festivals.. Harvest festivals in India.. Public holidays in Nepal.. Public holidays in Trinidad and Tobago.. Public holidays in Fiji.. Fireworks events in Asia.. Traditions involving fire.. Festivals in India.. Religious festivals in India.. November observances.. Hindu festivals.. October observances.
