What Are the Rituals of Diwali, the Festival of Lights?
Billions of people worldwide are preparing and decorating their homes in anticipation of celebrating one of the most important holidays Diwali, also known as Deepavali or Deepawali, according to the BBC. Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is one of the main and biggest celebrations in India. It is also celebrated by other religions in the country, including Jainism and Sikhism. What Does Diwali Stand For Diwali, or the festival of lights, symbolizes the spiritual victory of Dharma over Adharma, light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The story is believed to date back to ancient times of a great warrior prince called Rama symbolizing the god Vishnu married to a princess called Sita representing the goddess Lakshmi who was kidnapped by the demon king Ravana, who was said to have ten heads and twenty arms. Rama fights a huge battle against the demon king and succeeds in rescuing his princess. When Rama and Sita returned home at night, people in their village were waiting for them while holding lamps to guide them home, and thats why it is called the festival of lights or Diwali. What Does the Word Diwali Mean Diwali means rows of lighted lamps, the BBC mentioned. Who Celebrates Diwali More than a billion Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists around the world celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, CNN reported. It is also observed in other countries outside India, including Nepal, Malaysia, Fiji, and countries with large South Asian diasporas, such as the UAE. When Is Diwali Marked There is no fixed date to mark Diwali, but it is always celebrated somewhere between October and November; however, the exact date varies from year to year, considering that the Hindu calendar is based on the Moon. In 2025, the festival of lights will be observed on Monday, October 20. How Many Days Are the Diwali Holiday Diwali is marked for five days, each representing a certain aspect in the following order: Dhanteras, Choti Diwali [Naraka Chaturdashi], Diwali [Lakshmi Puja], Padwa [Govardhan Puja], and Bhai Dooj. First Day of Diwali: During Dhanteras, people buy gold or silver jewelry, utensils, and other new household items with the hope of bringing good luck. Some spend the day cleaning. Second Day of Diwali: On Choti Diwali [Naraka Chaturdashi], Hindus get up early to take showers and wash their hair, according to CNN. They further decorate their houses with rangolis and diyas and prepare sweets. Third Day of Diwali: Diwali [Lakshmi Puja] marks the main day of Diwali, according to Hindus, who celebrate by having feasts with their loved ones and families, spending the day exchanging gifts and eating sweets. Fourth Day of Diwali: During Diwalis Padwa [Govardhan Puja] day, which honors the relationship between husband and wife, men usually buy gifts for their wives, CNN further explained. Last Day of Diwali: When Bhai Dooj comes, it means the end of Diwali, marking love between siblings, in honor of the special connection between Lord Yama and his sister Yami or Yamuna. What Decorations Do People Add CNN mentioned that before Diwali, people decorate their homes, centers, shops, and everywhere else with diyas, small oil lamps made from clay. How Is the Festival of Lights Observed Diwali can be marked in various ways, including cleaning houses and places, exchanging gifts with family members or friends, purchasing new clothes, and cooking festive meals. All this is in addition to the lamps and fancy light decorations inside and outside. Moreover, massive fireworks shows are conducted during the festival of lights. On the other hand, some Indians usually play gambling card games such as teen patti, blackjack, and poker, CNN reported. For some, gambling during Diwali is auspicious and represents a legend in which the god Shiva and his spouse Parvati used to play a dice game. In other celebrations, some businessmen, traders, and shopkeepers open new account books, since Diwali marks the start of the new Hindu financial year. What Traditional Meals Are Cooked on Diwali Main festive dishes on Diwali include: Pulao or Biryani: Fragrant rice cooked with vegetables, nuts, and spices. Paneer Dishes: Favorites like Shahi Paneer, Paneer Butter Masala, or Palak Paneer. Poori Paratha: Fried or panroasted Indian bread served with rich gravies. Chole Rajma: Spicy chickpea or kidney bean curry comforting and festive. What Sweets Are Made on Diwali According to Indian Healthy Recipe, there are plenty of sweets found at feasts during the Diwali festival, but here are some of the most traditional ones: Ladoo Laddu Halwa Kalakand Rasgulla Rasmalai Chum chum Sandesh Read More What Are the Secrets of the Louvre Museum What Are the Different Types of Coffee What Is a Lunar Eclipse