Close X
Friday, November 1, 2024
ADVT 
National

What is Diwali, the Festival of Lights? How is it celebrated in India and the diaspora?

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 31 Oct, 2024 10:44 AM
  • What is Diwali, the Festival of Lights? How is it celebrated in India and the diaspora?

Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India — and for Hindus in particular.

It is celebrated across faiths by more than a billion people in the world’s most populous nation and the diaspora. Over five days, people take part in festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts and prayer.

Diwali is derived from the word “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.” Celebrants light rows of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

When is Diwali?

The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling in late October or early November.

This year, the holiday is being celebrated on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. In the U.S., Diwali falls on Halloween this year, which has triggered quite a few #Diwaloween memes on social media where some celebrants can be seen lighting diyas in their scary costumes or handing out laddoos to trick-or-treaters.

What are some Hindu stories of Diwali?

While Diwali is a major religious festival for Hindus, it is also observed by Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. The origin story of Diwalivaries depending on the region. All these stories have one underlying theme — the victory of good over evil.

In southern India, Diwali celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna’s destruction of the demon Naraka who is said to have imprisoned women and tormented his subjects. In northern India, Diwalihonors the triumphant return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana, from a 14-year exile in the forest.

How is Diwali celebrated?

The festival brings with it a number of unique traditions, which also vary by the region. What all celebrations have in common are the lights, fireworks, feasting, new clothes and praying.

—In southern India, many have an early morning warm oil bath to symbolize bathing in the holy River Ganges as a form of physical and spiritual purification.

—In the north, worshipping the Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes wealth and prosperity, is the norm.

Gambling is a popular tradition because of the belief whoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the year. Many people buy gold on the first day of Diwali, known as Dhanteras — an act they believe will bring them good luck.

Setting off firecrackers is a cherished tradition, as is exchanging sweets and gifts among friends and family. Diwali celebrations typically feature rangoli, which are geometric, floral patterns drawn on the floor using colorful powders. This year, several northern Indian states, including the capital New Delhi, are instituting partial or total fireworks bans to combat rising pollution levels during Diwali.

What are the Diwali stories from other faiths?

Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs have their own Diwali stories:

—Jains observe Diwali as the day the Lord Mahavira, the last of the great teachers, attained nirvana, which is liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

—Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas — a day that overlaps with Diwali — to commemorate the release of Guru Hargobind, a revered figure in the faith, who had been imprisoned for 12 years by the Mughal emperor Jahangir.

—Buddhists observe the day as one when the Hindu Emperor Ashoka, who ruled in the third century B.C., converted to Buddhism.

New in 2024: Diwali Barbie

This year, Mattel has released its “Barbie Signature Diwali Doll” by designer Anita Dongre who wrote on Instagram that her Barbie represents “the fashion-forward modern women who wears India on her sleeve with pride.”

In contrast to her earliest iteration in 1996 who was clad in a bright pink sari or the 2012 avatar who was packaged with a “monkey friend,” Diwali Barbie is fashionably dressed in a lehnga, an ankle length embroidered skirt with motifs from Dongre’s home state of Rajasthan, a cropped blouse and vest.

This doll, priced at $40, sold out on day one on Mattel’s website.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Kayaker dies after capsizing on river in central Alberta: RCMP

Kayaker dies after capsizing on river in central Alberta: RCMP
An Alberta man is dead after his kayak capsized on the Athabasca River. RCMP say they responded to a call on Saturday about a man in medical distress near the town of Hinton, Alta. Hinton is about 290 kilometres west of Edmonton.

Kayaker dies after capsizing on river in central Alberta: RCMP

Man charged in Vancouver Island homicide

Man charged in Vancouver Island homicide
Mounties on Vancouver Island say a man has been charged with murder after another man was found dead over the weekend. R-C-M-P say officers from the Lake Cowichan detachment were called to a home at the Ditidaht First Nation Saturday morning. 

Man charged in Vancouver Island homicide

Violent attack on girl captured on video in Kelowna RCMP investigating

Violent attack on girl captured on video in Kelowna RCMP investigating
Police in Kelowna say they're investigating a violent attack on a girl that was captured on video on Friday night. RCMP say they are "reviewing very clear and detailed video of the incident to identify all of those involved," including "primary aggressors" and witnesses.

Violent attack on girl captured on video in Kelowna RCMP investigating

Calgary police investigating weekend assault of prominent radio host

Calgary police investigating weekend assault of prominent radio host
Rishi Nagar, a longtime radio host and news director for RED FM Calgary, identified himself as the victim of the assault. Nagar says he was assaulted by two men who were upset with recent reporting his outlet did related to an incident at the Dashmesh Culture Centre in Calgary last week.

Calgary police investigating weekend assault of prominent radio host

Wet snow warning on Trans-Canada Highway

Wet snow warning on Trans-Canada Highway
B-C is little more than a week into fall, but Environment Canada is warning of wet snow in the northeast and along a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway. Muncho Lake and Stone Mountain provincial parks west of Fort Nelson are expected to see about 10 centimetres before the snow eases later today.

Wet snow warning on Trans-Canada Highway

Victoria awarded best travel city globally

Victoria awarded best travel city globally
Victoria has been chosen for the second year in a row in the Conde Nast Traveler's 2024 Readers' Choice Award as the number one small city in the world to visit. More than 575-thousand readers across the United States submitted their rating and travel experiences.

Victoria awarded best travel city globally