Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated with joy and togetherness. It signifies the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, symbolized by lighting oil lamps and sharing sweets with loved ones. This vibrant celebration marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya and honors Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity.

What is Diwali?

Diwali or Deepavali is the Hindu festival of light. It is celebrated in the months of Ashvin and Kartika (mid-October to mid-November).

Diwali 2024 Date: October 31 or November 1? 

Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is a significant festival celebrated across India with great enthusiasm. The festivities for Diwali 2024 will begin with Dhanteras on October 29, marking the start of a five-day celebration.

Key Dates for Diwali 2024

• October 29: Dhanteras
• October 30: Choti Diwali (Narak Chaturdashi)
• October 31: Diwali and Lakshmi Puja
• November 2: Govardhan Puja
• November 3: Bhai Dooj

Official Diwali Date 2024

This year’s Diwali date has been officially confirmed by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) as October 31. The confusion surrounding the exact date arises from regional differences in celebration. In North India, Diwali commemorates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya, while in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, it celebrates the victory of Goddess Satyabhama and Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura.

According to Drik Panchang, the timings for Lakshmi Puja on this day are as follows:

• Lakshmi Puja Muhurat: 6:52 PM to 8:41 PM
• Pradosh Kaal: 6:10 PM to 8:52 PM
• Amavasya Tithi Begins: 6:22 AM on October 31

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Diwali: Significance and Celebration

• Significance:
  • Togetherness: Diwali festival is an occasion for families and friends to come together. It helps society and people to interact.
  • Elimination of Darkness: This marks the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
• Celebrations:
  • Ritual Bath: On the day of Naraka Chaturdashi, people get up early, and have a ritual oil bath to mark the occasion.
  • Lighting of Lamps: During the festival of Diwali, people decorate their homes with oil lamps and colorful rangoli designs.
  • Exchange of Sweets: On the occasion of Deepavali, people exchange sweets with family and friends to mark the festive occasion.
  • Cleaning of Homes: It is believed to be the occasion when Goddess Lakshmi, representative of wealth, enters home. Hence people clean their homes during Deepavali.
  • Wearing Traditional Clothes: People consider it as an event to cleanse the bad memories from the previous year. They wear new clothes and visit temples during the festival.
  • Worshiping Goddess Lakshmi: Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped during Diwali, praying for wealth and prosperity for the coming year.

Tracing the Heritage of Diwali: From Ancient Harvest Festivals to Modern Celebrations

• Origins of Diwali: The festival of Deepavali originated as a fusion of harvest festivals in ancient India. Its mention can be found in Sanskrit texts such as the Padma Purana and the Skanda Purana.
• Mention in Records
  • The festival has been mentioned as Dīpapratipadotsava by Emperor Harsha in his play Nagananda. Rajasekhara referred to Deepavali as Dipamalika in his work Kavyamimamsa,
  • Traveler Al Biruni mentions about Deepavali being celebrated on the day of the New Moon in the month of Kartika. The Venetian merchant and traveler Niccolò de’ Conti mentions Diwali in his memoir.
  • Domingo Paes says that Diwali was celebrated during the month of October in Vijayanagara. Similar mentions can be found in other memoirs.
• Evolution of Diwali Celebrations
  • Previously, it was a symbolism of victory of good over evil. Its evolution is traced to the return of Lord Rama from Lanka.
  • The festival has now evolved into a celebration of happiness and joy. It is a moment for families to come together and exchange sweets.

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Dates and Lunar Significance

• Diwali 2023 Dates: This festival will begin from November 10th and will extend till November 15th.
  • Dhanteras: It will be celebrated on 10th November
  • Narak Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali: It will be celebrated on 11th November.
  • Diwali: On November 12th, Lakshmi Puja will be conducted.
  • Govardhan Puja: It will be celebrated on November 14th.
  • Bhai Dooj: This will be celebrated on November 15th.
• Understanding the Lunar Calendar: The Hindu Lunar Calendar is based upon the motion of the moon. Comprising 12 months, Hindu Calendar consists of 354 days.
  • Every month is divided into two halves: The first half is called ‘shukla’ and the second half is called ‘krishna’. The 15th day of Shukla is called ‘Poornima’ and that of Krishna is called ‘Amavasya’.
  • Every three years there is an additional month called ‘adhik’, added to the solar calendar, to compensate for the difference between solar and lunar calendar.

Diwali Across Faiths: Jain and Sikh Celebrations – Unity in Diverse Observances

• Diwali in Jainism
  • The Jains celebrate their own version of it  to mark the final liberation of Mahavira. The festival commemorates the passing of Mahavira and his achievement of moksha.
  • Jains in business traditionally start their accounting year from Deepavali. Jain temples, homes, offices, and shops are decorated with lights and lamps.
  • Devotees sing and chant hymns and mantras from Jain religious texts in praise of the Tirthankar for achieving Nirvana or salvation.
• Diwali in Sikhism
  • Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas during Diwali to mark the release of Guru Hargobind from a Mughal prison. It falls during the Deepavali festival.
  • The festival is marked by the lighting up of homes and Gurdwaras, celebratory processions (nagar kirtan) and langar (community kitchen). Fireworks are also used to celebrate the festival.

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Diverse Festivities: Regional Expressions of Diwali Across India

• Diwali in North India
  • Dhanteras: It begins with the celebration of Dhanteras, which signifies the start of Deepavali and the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin or Kartik.
    • The day is dedicated to wealth and also Ayurvedic deity Dhanvantari, the god of health and healing.
  • Chhoti Diwali: The second day of Diwali celebrations includes Naraka Chaturdashi, referred commonly as Chhoti Diwali. This day is associated with the killing of demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna.
  • Diwali: The final day of Ashwin’s or Kartik’s dark fortnight is known as Diwali or the “festival of lights”. Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped on this day.
  • Govardhan Puja: The first day of the new lunar month is called Govardhan Puja, Bali Padya etc. It signifies worshiping of Govardhan mountain, which Lord Krishna had lifted, to save the farming and cow-herding villages from continuous rains and floods.
  • Bhai Dooj: The final day of Diwali celebrations involve the Bhai Dooj, which honors the sister-brother bond.  It is similar to Rakshabandhan.
• Diwali in South India
  • In Southern India, Naraka Chaturdashi is the main day of the Diwali celebrations. On the day before, the oven is cleaned, and religious symbols are drawn on the oven, filled with water, and the water is used on the main day for the oil bath.
  • People clean their homes, and draw rangoli (Kolam) designs outside their homes. People wear new clothes and visit temples to take blessings from God.
  • Typically, a festival lunch is consumed on the day, followed by bursting of crackers at night. They visit friends and family to exchange festival greetings.
• Diwali in Western India
  • In western states such as Gujarat, and certain communities of India, the Diwali festival signifies the start of a new year. People decorate their homes to visit Goddess Lakshmi.
  • Carrying out new ventures, such as buying of properties, the opening of offices, shops, and special occasions like marriages are considered auspicious.
  • In the state of Maharashtra, people follow similar traditions. They draw colorful rangoli designs, visit temples and exchange sweets and greetings.
  • On the fourth day, Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped. Items such as money and jewelry are worshiped during the festival.
• Diwali in Eastern India
  • Hindus of Eastern India and Bangladesh generally celebrate the festival of Diwali by worshiping the goddess Kali.
  • They also follow rituals such as lighting of lamps, candles, diyas, along with bursting of crackers. Homes are kept open for Goddess Lakshmi to enter.
  • In some parts, Diwali nights are celebrated as Pitripurush and diyas are lit on long poles to guide souls of ancestors on the way to heaven.

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Diwali: Commemorating Triumphs of Virtue – From Lord Rama to Lord Krishna

• The Story of Lord Rama: Diwali is believed to be the day Lord Rama returned to his kingdom in Ayodhya with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana after victory over Raavan in Lanka.
• Lord Krishna: Diwali festival also marks the victory of good over evil after Krishna’s Victory over Narakasura in Dwapara yuga.
• The Mythological Significance: Diwali is also associated with worshiping of Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and Ganesha, the god of wisdom and the remover of obstacles.

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Diwali and the Radiance of Inner Light: Symbolism and Significance

• The Symbolism of Light: Lighting of lamps outside the homes symbolizes the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.
  • Since Diwali is celebrated on a new moon day, which is full of darkness, the lighting of lamps is a symbolism of means to get rid of darkness. They also represent good luck.

Conclusion

The festival of Diwali is not just an occasion for Hindus, but for all the people in the country. It is a representation of the victory of good over evil. The festival is significant not just culturally but also economically.

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