Diwali, Divali Deepavali is the Hindu lights festival which typically lasts five days and is celebrated during the Kartika Hindu Lunisolar month (between mid-October and mid-November). One of Hinduism's most famous festivals, Diwali symbolizes the "victory of light over darkness, good over bad, and wisdom over ignorance" spiritual The festival is commonly identified with Lakshmi, a goddess of wealth, but it is linked with Sita and Rama, Vishnu, Krishna, Durga, Kali, Dhanvantari, or Vishvakarman by regional tradition.
During the lead-up to Diwali, the celebrants should prepare their homes and offices by sweeping, renovating, and decorating. During the Diwali people wear their finest clothing, illuminate with diyas (oil lamps or candles) the interior and exterior of their houses, give puja (worship) to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and riches, light fireworks, and take part in family feasts where mithai (sweets) and gifts are exchanged. Diwali is also an important cultural festival of the Indian subcontinent for the Hindu and Jain diaspora.
Originating in the Indian subcontinent, the five-day festival is stated in early Sanskrit texts. Diwali is usually celebrated eighteen days after the Dussehra (Dasara, Dasain) festival, with Dhanteras, or the regional equivalent, marking the first day of the festival when celebrities prepare by cleaning their homes and making floor decorations, such as rangoli. The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi, or the regional equivalent which is Diwali proper for Hindus in southern India. Western, southern, eastern, and northern Indian cultures celebrate Diwali's main day on the third day, Lakshmi Puja's day, and the traditional month's darkest night.
In some parts of India the day after Lakshmi Puja is marked with the Govardhan Puja and Balipratipada (Padwa), dedicated to the wife-husband relationship. Some Hindu communities mark the last day as Bhai Dooj or the regional equivalent dedicated to the connection between sister and brother, while other groups of Hindu and Sikh craftsmen mark this day as Vishwakarma Puja and observe it by performing maintenance in their workspaces and offering prayers.
History
The Diwali festival is possibly a combination of ancient Indian harvest festivals. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts like the Padma Purana, the Skanda Purana which were both completed in the second half of the 1st millennium CE. In Skanda Kishore Purana the diyas (lamps) are described as symbolizing parts of the sun, identifying it as the celestial giver of light and energy to all life and which transitions seasonally in Kartik's Hindu calendar month.
King Harsha refers to Deepavali, the Sanskrit play Nagananda in the 7th century, as DÄ«papratipadotsava, where lamps were lit and gifts were received from newly engaged brides and grooms. In his ninth century Kavyamimamsa, Rajasekhara referred to Deepavali as Dipamalika, in which he describes the custom of whitewashed homes and oil lamps decorating houses, streets and night markets
Numerous travelers from outside India have also identified Diwali. The Persian explorer and historian Al Biruni wrote in his 11th-century autobiography on India about Deepavali being celebrated by Hindus on New Moon Day in the month of Kartika. The Venetian merchant and explorer Niccolò de 'Conti visited India in the early 15th century and wrote in his memoirs, "An infinite number of oil lamps, which are held burning day and night, are placed on each of these festivals inside their temples and on the outside of the roofs," and that the families would assemble, "clothe themselves in new clothes," sing, dance and festival.
Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes of the 16th century wrote of his visit to the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire, where in October Dipavali was celebrated with lamps illuminating householders and temples.
During the lead-up to Diwali, the celebrants should prepare their homes and offices by sweeping, renovating, and decorating. During the Diwali people wear their finest clothing, illuminate with diyas (oil lamps or candles) the interior and exterior of their houses, give puja (worship) to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and riches, light fireworks, and take part in family feasts where mithai (sweets) and gifts are exchanged. Diwali is also an important cultural festival of the Indian subcontinent for the Hindu and Jain diaspora.
Originating in the Indian subcontinent, the five-day festival is stated in early Sanskrit texts. Diwali is usually celebrated eighteen days after the Dussehra (Dasara, Dasain) festival, with Dhanteras, or the regional equivalent, marking the first day of the festival when celebrities prepare by cleaning their homes and making floor decorations, such as rangoli. The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi, or the regional equivalent which is Diwali proper for Hindus in southern India. Western, southern, eastern, and northern Indian cultures celebrate Diwali's main day on the third day, Lakshmi Puja's day, and the traditional month's darkest night.
In some parts of India the day after Lakshmi Puja is marked with the Govardhan Puja and Balipratipada (Padwa), dedicated to the wife-husband relationship. Some Hindu communities mark the last day as Bhai Dooj or the regional equivalent dedicated to the connection between sister and brother, while other groups of Hindu and Sikh craftsmen mark this day as Vishwakarma Puja and observe it by performing maintenance in their workspaces and offering prayers.
History
The Diwali festival is possibly a combination of ancient Indian harvest festivals. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts like the Padma Purana, the Skanda Purana which were both completed in the second half of the 1st millennium CE. In Skanda Kishore Purana the diyas (lamps) are described as symbolizing parts of the sun, identifying it as the celestial giver of light and energy to all life and which transitions seasonally in Kartik's Hindu calendar month.
King Harsha refers to Deepavali, the Sanskrit play Nagananda in the 7th century, as DÄ«papratipadotsava, where lamps were lit and gifts were received from newly engaged brides and grooms. In his ninth century Kavyamimamsa, Rajasekhara referred to Deepavali as Dipamalika, in which he describes the custom of whitewashed homes and oil lamps decorating houses, streets and night markets
Numerous travelers from outside India have also identified Diwali. The Persian explorer and historian Al Biruni wrote in his 11th-century autobiography on India about Deepavali being celebrated by Hindus on New Moon Day in the month of Kartika. The Venetian merchant and explorer Niccolò de 'Conti visited India in the early 15th century and wrote in his memoirs, "An infinite number of oil lamps, which are held burning day and night, are placed on each of these festivals inside their temples and on the outside of the roofs," and that the families would assemble, "clothe themselves in new clothes," sing, dance and festival.
Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes of the 16th century wrote of his visit to the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire, where in October Dipavali was celebrated with lamps illuminating householders and temples.