Deepavali is one of the most important and popular Hindu festivals. It is celebrated on the dark Amavasya (No Moon) night / moonless night in the Hindu month of Aswayuja. It has become a tradition for Hindus to light up their homes with traditional oil lamps i.e diyas on Deepavali night to kill the darkness of Amavasya.
Deepavali literally means an array of lights. The festival is popularly known as the Hindu festival of lights. Deepavali is the most favorite festival of Indians and is the most awaited festival. The excitement and celebratory spirit that Deepavali brings is in fact unmatched. The festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm by all irrespective of religion and is enjoyed the most.
About the festival
Dussehra Navratri is followed by Deepavali. People across the country continue to be busy with the chain of festive celebrations.Deepavali usually falls in the month of October / November. It is basically a 5-day festival in the Northern states of India which begins with the festival of Dhanteras known as Dhana Trayodasi in Southern states. Dhanteras is important particularly for the people of the business community in the Northern regions. People in Southern India do not celebrate Dhanteras . However, there is gradual cultural assimilation and people in Southern states too have started celebrating Dhanteras.
The next day i.e Chaturdasi day is celebrated across the country as Naraka Chaturdasi or Kali Chaudas in the Northern states. Naraka Chaturdasi is celebrated across the country like Chotta Diwali i.e mini Diwali and people fire crackers on this day.
Naraka Chaturdasi signifies the victory of good over evil. It is believed that Satyabhama, one of the eight wives of Sri Krishna killed Narakasura on this day. Hence the festival is celebrated across the country as Chota Diwali (pre-Diwali) or Kalichaudas in the northern states. This festival is celebrated on the 14th day after Aswayuja Pournami (the full moon day in the Hindu month of Aswayuja) i.e Kumara Purnima day. The next day i.e the day of moonless night / Amavasya day is the much awaited day across the country. It is on this day the Hindu festival of lights called Deepavali or Diwali is celebrated with much fervor and enthusiasm by all the Indians irrespective of their religion.
The 5-day festival of Deepavali is celebrated in the Hindu months of Aswayuja and Kartika Masam.
Day 1 - Dhanteras / Dhana Triyodasi - celebrated on Aswayuja Triyodasi (13th ) day after the full moon day.
Day 2 - Naraka Chaturdasi celebrated as Chota Diwali in the northern region and as Naraka Chaturdasi in the southern region.
Day 3- the most important day celebrated as Deepavali / Diwali - the Hindu festival of lights. People in the Northern region perform Lakshmi Pooja and specially worship Goddess Lakshmi and sing Lakshmi aarti.
Day 4 - celebrated as New Year's day in the northern regions of the country particularly by the business community when they start their new accounts.
Day 5 - celebrated as Bhai Dooj mostly by the people of North India. This festival is not celebrated by the people of South India though celebrated as Bhagni Hasta Bhojanam (brothers eat the food cooked by their sisters ) by the Telugu people.
The Hindu festival of lights, Deepavali / Diwali, is a series of festival celebrated with dhoom dham across the country. People burn crackers and fireworks on this day. While the women folk enjoy decorating their homes specially with fresh flower garlands, rangolis and traditional earthen lamps. Unlike the Diwali celebrations of the olden days, there are many harmful effects of the fireworks and there need to be a check on the same.
Date of Deepavali 2022 - October 24
Wishing All The Readers A Safe, Environment-friendly and Happy Deepavali!