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| Home : Hinduism : Diwali |
 Description: D+pãvali (also transliterated Deepavali; Sanskrit: row of lights) or Diwãli (contracted spelling) is the Hindu festival of lights, held on the final day of the Vikram calendar, one type of a Hindu calendar that is followed by North Indians. The following day, marking the beginning of a new year, for North Indians, entitled Annakut.
In South India, Diwali does not coincide with the beginning of a new year as South Indians accordingly follow a different calendar, Shalivahana calendar. In South India, the new year, entitled Ugadi, is followed by persons in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Vishu and Varsha Pirappu are celebrated in Kerala and Tamil Nadu respectively. These festivals occur at about the same time, generally during April. references: [1] (http://www.hindutemple.org/brochures/tamil_new_year_celebrations_2003.htm) and [2] (http://www.saja.org/stylebook.html#D) (Diwali definition; Excerpt from saja.org: Diwali should not be referred as the Hindu New Year as the new year is celebrated at different times.)
It is celebrated by Hindus all over the world, every year. On the day of Dipavali, old and young, rich and poor wear new dresses and share sweets. They also burn fire crackers. The North Indian business community starts their financial new year on Dipavali and new account books are opened on this day.
There are two mythological legends associated with Dipavali. The first Dipavali was held to celebrate the return of the Rama, King of Ayodhya, his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana to Koshala after a war in which he killed the demon Ravana. It was getting dark, so people along the way lit oil lamps to light their way. Second, it commemorates the killing of Narakasura, an evil demon by Lord Krishna. So Dipavali is a festival symbolising the destruction of evil forces.
There are various legends relating to Dipavali as also different ways of celebrating in different parts of India. Dipavali is celebrated over five days in most of North India as:
* dhan teras
* narak chaudas - chhoTii diwali
* deepawali - ba.Dii diwali
* annakuuTa
* bhai dauj
In South India, naraka chaturdashii is the main day of celebration with lot of fire crackers at dawn while in North India the main celebration is on Amavasya evening with Lakshmi Puja followed by lighting of oil lamps in and around the house and bursting of crackers.
In England, the days are Dhanteras, Narak Chatrudashi, Lakshmi-Puja, the most important day, Padwa or Varshapratipanda and Bhaiya Dooj or the Teeka Ceremony [3] (http://www.leicester.gov.uk/departments/page.asp?pgid=6490).
In Trinidad and Tobago, the day of Divali is a public holiday and celebrations precede the Lakshmi-Puja day for almost two weeks. This event is one of the foremost religious observances for the country. More information about the celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago can be found at http://www.visittnt.com/ToDo/Events/Divali/Introduction.htm
The time is also significant to Sikhs. During the festival time in 1620, the sixth Guru, Hargobind Singh, gained the release of 52 Hindu princes who had been falsely imprisoned in Gwallior Fort by the rulers of the area, the Mughals. The Golden Temple was lit with many lights to welcome the release of Guru Hargobind and Sikhs have continued the celebration.
The Jain also celebrate this time, as a celebration of the establishment of the dharma by Lord Mahavira.
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| Resource Specification | | CustomTeaserText: | D+pãvali (also transliterated Deepavali; Sanskrit: row of lights) or Diwãli (contracted spelling) is the Hindu festival of lights, held on the final day of the Vikram calendar, one type of a Hindu calendar that is followed by North Indians. The following day, marking the beginning of a new year, for North Indians, entitled Annakut. | | Date Added: | 23pm28UTC_f2005Wed, 23 Feb 2005 22:16:34 +000002pm28 |
| Last Updated: | 23pm28UTC_f2005Wed, 23 Feb 2005 22:16:34 +000002pm28 | | Author: | admin |
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