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Diwali

Diwali / Deepavali
The Rangoli of Lights.jpg
Rangoli decorations, made using coloured powder or sand, are popular during Diwali
Also called Deepavali
Observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Newar Buddhists
Type Cultural, Seasonal, Religious
Celebrations Diya and lighting, home decoration, shopping, fireworks, puja (prayers), gifts, performing religious rituals, feast and sweets
Begins Dhanteras, 2 days before Diwali
Ends Bhai Dooj, 2 days after Diwali
Date Varies per Hindu Lunisolar calendar
2017 date 19 October (Thursday) in North India
18 October (Wednesday) in South India and SE Asia
2018 date 7 November (Wednesday) in North india,Andhra Pradesh,telangana and western india6 November(Tuesday) in south india
2019 date 27 October (Sunday) Throughout India
Related to Kali Puja, Galungan, Diwali (Jainism), Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti
Diwali celebrations
Deepawali-festival.jpg
Indoor Diya decoration on Naraka Chaturdasi night
Diya necklace Dipavali Diwali November 2013.jpg
Outdoor Diya decoration on Diwali night
Aakash Kandils Diwali lighting Pune India 2013.jpg
Diwali lanterns before Dhanteras in Maharashtra
Glowing Swayambhu (3005358416).jpg
As Tihar in Nepal
Diwali fireworks and lighting celebrations India 2012.jpg
Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas celebrations in Amritsar
Fireworks Diwali Chennai India November 2013 b.jpg
Diwali night fireworks over a city (Chennai)
Sweets Mithai for Diwali and other Festivals of India.jpg
Diwali Mithai (sweets)
Diyas Diwali Decor India.jpg
Diwali Lamps
Diwali festivities include a celebration of sights, sounds, arts and flavors. The festivities vary between different regions.

Diwali or Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights celebrated every year in autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in southern hemisphere). It is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India,Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and recently Sindh Province in Pakistan. One of the major festivals of Hinduism, it spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Its celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and other buildings in the communities and countries where it is observed. The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika in Bikram Sambat calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali night falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate, and decorate their homes and offices. On Diwali night, people dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, participate in family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of fertility and prosperity. After puja, fireworks follow, then a family feast including mithai (sweets), and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends. Deepavali also marks a major shopping period in nations where it is celebrated.

The name of festive days as well as the rituals of Diwali vary significantly among Hindus, based on the region of India. In many parts of India, the festivities start with Dhanteras (in Northern and Western part of India), followed by Naraka Chaturdasi on second day, Deepavali on the third day, Diwali Padva dedicated to wife–husband relationship on the fourth day, and festivities end with Bhai Dooj dedicated to sister–brother bond on the fifth day. Dhanteras usually falls eighteen days after Dussehra.


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Wikipedia

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