Diwali also known as Deepawali, popularly known as the “festival of lights”, is an important festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, celebrated for different reasons.
Diwali is celebrated on the Amavasyaa day which marks the end of Ashwin and beginning of Kartik month.
For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC.
For Sikhs, Diwali is celebrated as Bandhi Chhor Diwas (The Celebration of Freedom), and celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, who also rescued 52 Hindu kings held captive by Mughal Emperor with him in the Gwalior Fort in 1619.
In Hinduism Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama, along with Sita and Lakshmana, from his 14-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana.
Deepavali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, and Fiji.
The name “Diwali” is a contraction of “Deepavali” (Sanskrit: दीपावली DÄ«pÄvalÄ«), which translates into “row of lamps”. Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas or dÄ«pas) in Sanskrit: दीप) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil.
During Diwali, people wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends.
Diwali is a five day festival. The festival starts with Dhanteras on which most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival, Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. Amavasya, the third day of Deepawali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the Bali, and banished him to Patala. It is on the fourth day of Deepawali, Kartika Shudda Padyami, that Bali went to patala and took the reins of his new kingdom in there. The fifth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.
Gujarati’s celebrate the fourth day of Diwali as their New year.