Diwali – November 4

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a significant Hindu festival that is celebrated every autumn in the northern hemisphere. This year, Diwali falls on November 4th. The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Deepavali’, which means ‘row of lights’. It is a five-day long festival that symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness. Each day of Diwali has its own significance and traditions.The first day of Diwali is known as Dhanteras, which is considered an auspicious day for buying gold and silver. The second day is called Naraka Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali, where people clean and decorate their homes and light diyas and candles. The third day is the main day of Diwali, also known as Lakshmi Puja. On this day, people worship the goddess Lakshmi, exchange gifts and sweets, and attend firework displays.The fourth day of Diwali is celebrated as Govardhan Puja, where people offer food and prayers to small mounds of cow dung that symbolize the Govardhan mountain. The final day of Diwali is called Bhai Dooj, where sisters perform a ritual of applying tilak on their brothers’ foreheads and pray for their well-being.Apart from the religious significance, Diwali also has cultural and symbolic importance. It is believed that Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. Diwali is also associated with the worship of the goddess Kali who defeated the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.Diwali is a time for joy, merriment, and celebrations. People dress up in new clothes, decorate their homes, and prepare delicious traditional food for their loved ones. The atmosphere is filled with the sound of firecrackers, and the night sky is lit up with colorful fireworks displays. Diwali is a time for family and friends to come together, making it one of the most joyous festivals in India. Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Hindu festival celebrated every autumn in the northern hemisphere. This year, Diwali falls on November 4th. It is one of the most significant festivals in the Hindu calendar and is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists. The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Deepavali’, which means ‘row of lights’. The festival commemorates the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. It is a five-day long festival that is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. Each day of Diwali has its own significance and traditions. The first day of Diwali is known as Dhanteras, which is considered an auspicious day for buying gold and silver. The second day is called Naraka Chaturdashi, also known as Choti Diwali. On this day, people clean and decorate their homes, and light diyas and candles to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness. The third day is the main day of Diwali, also known as Lakshmi Puja. On this day, people worship the goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. They also exchange gifts and sweets, wear new clothes, and attend firework displays. The fourth day of Diwali is celebrated as Govardhan Puja, which commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over Indra. On this day, people build small mounds of cow dung, which symbolizes the Govardhan mountain, and offer food and prayers to it. The final day of Diwali is called Bhai Dooj, where sisters perform a ritual of applying tilak on their brothers’ foreheads and pray for their well-being. Apart from the religious significance, Diwali also has cultural and symbolic significance. It is believed that Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The people of Ayodhya lit diyas to welcome them and celebrate their homecoming, which led to the tradition of lighting diyas and candles during Diwali. Diwali is also associated with the worship of the goddess Kali, who is considered the fierce form of Goddess Durga. It is said that on this day, she defeated and killed the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. In addition to these religious and cultural traditions, Diwali is also a time for joy, merriment, and celebrations. People dress up in new clothes, decorate their homes, and prepare delicious traditional food for their loved ones. The atmosphere is filled with the sound of firecrackers, and the night sky is lit up with colorful fireworks displays. Diwali is also a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate, making it one of the most joyous festivals in India.