Diwali: Diwali (Jainism) Tihar Deepavali (Disambiguation)

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Diwali

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


This article is about the Hindu festival. For the related Jain festival with the same name, see Diwali
(Jainism).
"Dipavali" and "Deepavali" redirect here. For the related Nepalese festival, see Tihar. For the films,
see Deepavali (disambiguation).
Diwali or pranav is the Hindu festival of lights celebrated every year in autumn in the northern
hemisphere (spring in southern hemisphere).[4][5] It is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India,
[6]
Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and
recently Sindh Province in Pakistan. One of the major festivals of Hinduism, it spiritually signifies the
victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.[7][8]
[9]
Its celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around
temples and other buildings in the communities and countries where it is observed. [10]The festival
preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period, but the main festival night of Diwali
coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika in Bikram
Sambat calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali night falls between mid-October and mid-
November.
Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate, and decorate their homes and offices. [11] On Diwali night,
people dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and
outside their home, participate in family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi the goddess of fertility
and prosperity. After puja, fireworks follow,[12] then a family feast including mithai (sweets), and an
exchange of gifts between family members and close friends. Deepavali also marks a major
shopping period in nations where it is celebrated.[13]
The name of festive days as well as the rituals of Diwali vary significantly among Hindus, based on
the region of India. In many parts of India,[14] the festivities start with Dhanteras (in Northern and
Western part of India), followed by Naraka Chaturdasi on second day, Deepavali on the third
day, Diwali Padva dedicated to wifehusband relationship on the fourth day, and festivities end
with Bhai Dooj dedicated to sisterbrother bond on the fifth day. Dhanteras usually falls eighteen
days after Dussehra.
On the same night that Hindus celebrate Diwali, Jains celebrate a festival also called Diwali to mark
the attainment of moksha by Mahavira,[15][16] Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas to mark the release of
Guru Hargobind from a Mughal Empire prison,[17] and Newar Buddhists, unlike the majority of
Buddhists, celebrate Diwali by worshipping Lakshmi.[18][19]

Contents
[hide]

1Etymology

2History

3Significance

4Description and rituals

5Regional variations

6Outside India
7Economics of Diwali

8Issues

9Diwali prayers

10Notes

11References

12External links

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