Diwali is India’s most important festival of the year—a time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Widely observed among more than a billion people from a variety of faiths across India and its diaspora, the five days of Diwali are marked by prayer, feasts, fireworks, family gatherings, and charitable giving. For some, Diwali is also the beginning of a new year.

But Diwali is perhaps best known as a festival of lights. Derived from the Sanskrit dipavali, which means “row of lights,” Diwali is known for the brightly burning clay lamps that celebrants line up outside their homes.

In some regions of the country, Diwali is marked as the day when Lord Ram, along with wife Sita and brother Lakshman, returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. Diwali also coincides with Kali Pujo, celebrated across Bengal. Deepavali basically symbolizes the victory of “good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance”. And people celebrate this day with much fun and fervor.

Every year, Diwali falls in the month of Kartika, as per the Hindu lunisolar calendar (which is between mid-October and mid-November).

Deepavali 2021: Date and time: This year, Diwali will be celebrated on 4th November.

Diwali celebrations take place over 5 days with each day typically having different rituals and traditions. Below we have listed all the days of Diwali along with their calendar dates and a short description of what happens on each day:

–              Day 1 — Dhanteras: November 2, 2021 (Tuesday) Dwadashi

This is the first day of the festival when people clean their homes and prepare for the events ahead. This is also a busy shopping day, when it is considered lucky to go to markets and buy gold or new kitchen items.

–              Day 2 — Choti Diwali: November 3, 2021 (Wednesday) Trayodashi

The second day is when people start decorating their homes. Many families will put up string lights and start creating their rangoli, which are intricate designs placed on the floors of homes.

Check more details about Diwali traditional decorations here.

–              Day 3 — Diwali and Lakshmi Puja: November 4, 2021 (Thursday) Amavasya

The most important part of the celebration is the ritual that takes place on this day.

Clay oil lamps or diyas are lit and rituals worshipping the goddess Lakshmi are performed. The most auspicious time for worship (Puja) is from 6:09pm to 8:04pm. The worshipping can be done at temples or at home by placing a red cloth on the puja chowki (‘worship table’), putting the idol on it, and then offering flowers, fruits (water chestnuts, pomegranate, quince, and coconut) and sweets (notably kesari bhaat — semolina pudding with saffron, nuts, and sugar) to Goddess Lakshmi, then prostrating in front of the idol and joining your palms for prayers.

On the day of Diwali, families get together to exchange gifts and have a large meal. Many people wear their nicest clothes on this day and say “Happy Diwali” to each other.

–              Day 4 — Padwa: November 5, 2021 (Friday) Pratipada

The fourth day of celebrations is dedicated to the love between husband and wife, and men will often buy gifts for their wives. Many businesses open new accounts on this day as it is considered auspicious.

–              Day 5 — Bhai Duj: November 6, 2021 (Saturday) Dwitiya

Bhai Duj (Bhaubeej), the last day of celebrations is dedicated to brothers and sisters. To celebrate their bond, sisters perform a special ceremony for their brothers for their protection. Brothers give presents to their sisters.

The Origin of Diwali

Historically, the origin of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important harvest festival. However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali or ‘Deepawali.’ Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the dark goddess of strength.

Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshiped in most Hindu homes on this day.

In Jainism, Deepawali has an added significance to the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of nirvana.

The return of Lord Rama

Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen year long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers. These Four Days Each day of Diwali has its own tale, legend and myth to tell. The first day of the festival Naraka Chaturdasi marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. Amavasya, the second day of Deepawali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees.

The story of Lord Vishnu

Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the tyrant Bali, and banished him to hell. Bali was allowed to return to earth once a year, to light millions of lamps to dispel the darkness and ignorance, and spread the radiance of love and wisdom. It is on the third day of Deepawali – Kartika Shudda Padyami that Bali steps out of hell and rules the earth according to the boon given by Lord Vishnu. The fourth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj) and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.

All the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance and a story to tell. The illumination of homes with lights and the skies with firecrackers is an expression of obeisance to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity.

According to one belief, the sound of fire-crackers are an indication of the joy of the people living on earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful state. Still another possible reason has a more scientific basis: the fumes produced by the crackers kill a lot of insects and mosquitoes, found in plenty after the rains.

The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva, and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. Diwali is associated with wealth and prosperity in many ways, and the festival of ‘Dhanteras’ (‘dhan’ = wealth; ‘teras’ = 13th) is celebrated two days before the festival of lights.

In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope.

 From darkness unto light – the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it’s a celebration of South-Asian identities.

If you are away from the sights and sounds of Diwali, light a diya, sit quietly, shut your eyes, withdraw the senses, concentrate on this supreme light and illuminate the soul.

Significance

With all the lights and diyas eradicating dark shadows and evil, and all the prayers and love among people create a wonderful atmosphere full of goodness and purity. The festival of Diwali fills everyone’s hearts with an aura of purity and a happy, compassionate mood.

Diwali is not just the lights, gambling, and fun-filled surprises and gifts; Diwali is also a time to reflect on one’s life, past deeds and making the right changes for the upcoming year.

Diwali is also a celebration to give and forgive. It is a common practice in Diwali for people to forget and forgive the injustices and grudges. People celebrate with an air of freedom, festivity, and friendliness everywhere.

Diwali marks the birth of a new and rejuvenated soul. A happy and refreshed mind during Diwali charges up a person to make changes as a healthy, ethical individual, who will be more efficient in their work, and will also be spiritually advanced.

Diwali is a celebration that unites people from every corner, religion and caste. The simple smile and a kind, accommodating heart melt even the hardest of hearts. It is a time when people mingle about in joy and embrace one another.

A celebration of prosperity, Diwali gives us the strength and the zeal to carry on with our work and goodwill for the rest of the year and thus, promising us success and prosperity. Thus, people give gifts to employees, family, and friends.

Most importantly, Diwali illuminates our inner self. The lights of Diwali also signify a time to destroy all our dark desires, dark thoughts, and have a deeper, inner illumination and self-reflection.

The history of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it most likely began as an important harvest festival. However, there are several legends pointing to the origins of Diwali.

There are many who believe Diwali to be the celebration to mark the wedding of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, with Lord Vishnu. Diwali is probably the commemoration of their blissful marriage. Others think it to be a celebration of Lakshmi’s birthday, as Lakshmi is said to have been born on the new-moon day of Kartik.

In Bengal, the Deepavali, or Deepabali, is dedicated to the worship of the powerful goddess Kali, the dark goddess of strength. the elephant god Lord Ganesha is also worshipped in some homes on Diwali, because he is a symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom. In certain Jain homes, Diwali has the added significance of marking the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss called nirvana.

Diwali is not only important to Hindus, but, has is also celebrated among Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs. For Hindus, it often signifies the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, after his 14 years of exile and victory over Ravana.

Ram, on that special day, was welcomed to the kingdom of Ayodhya with rows of diyas, lightened throughout the kingdom. Thus, the tradition of lighting oil lamps on Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil and freedom from spiritual darkness.